Mushroom Cultivation and Marketing Strategies: An Untapped Source of Sustainable Development and Livelihood in North Bengal

Mushroom cultivation can help in reducing vulnerability to poverty and strengthens livelihoods through the generation of a fast yielding and nutritious source of food and a reliable source of income. Thehorticulture sector contributes around 28% of the GDP from about 13.08% of thearea and 37% of the total exports of agricultural commodities. The horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of crops namely fruit crops, vegetables crops, potato and tuber crops, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromaticcrops, spices and plantation crops. New introductions like mushroom, bamboo andbee keepingfurther expanded the scope ofhorticulture. Since it does not require access to land, mushroom cultivation is a viable and attractive activity for both rural farmers and pre-urban dwellers. Small-scale growing does not include any significant capital investment too. The present study has focused on analyzing the mushroom producer's market potential by taking into consideration the forces that influences the competition and consumers'awareness. Both primary and secondary data are used in the research. Self administered questionnaires are used to collect the required primary data from respondents. SWOT analysis is used at the end to generate information and hypothesis testing is used for mathematical reasoning. The research reveals that much needed financial and technical assistances from the Govt. are required on high priority basis. More importantly Mushroom cultivation does not require access to significant land and thus, Mushroom cultivation is a viable and attractive activity for both rural farmers and semi-urban dwellers as a source of sustainable development and livelihood in North Bengal.