Popularizing of mushroom production technologies for food and nutritional security and agri-entrepreneurship development among rural women

The study was conducted purposively in selected villages of three blocks of Tonk district of Rajasthan to assess economic viability of mushroom production and to know the attitude of trainees towards mushroom production technologies. The data was collected through semi-structured interview schedule, informal group discussion and observation in 120 randomly selected rural women from three blocks out of total 8 blocks of Tonk district. Study revealed that economic viability of the mushroom production as the mushroom yield ranged from 45–50 kg/100kg wheat straw in case of Button Mushroom and 25-31kg./100 wheat straw in case of Dhingri Mushroom and total income ranged from ₹6,750-7,500/100kg. wheat straw in case of Button mushroom and 2500–3100 is case of Dhingri Mushroom with the net profit of ₹4,650-5,500/100kg. wheat straw in case of Button mushroom and ₹1,700-2,150 in case of Dhingri in the three months in rural area of Tonk district. In addition 648-1080g. protein/100kg wheat straw in case of Dhingri mushroom and 2015-2170g.protein/100kg. wheat straw in case of Button mushroom available for nutritional security in the rural area. More than 59.7 per cent trainees reported positive attitude towards mushroom production whereas 26.5 per cent showed negative attitude. Only 13.8 per cent respondents showed neutral attitude on liker scale towards mushroom production. Thus it may be concluded that mushroom production is a profitable income generating activity for rural youth & rural women in the district.