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Under the mushroom umbrella

Mushrooms are getting popular among the vegetarians and non-vegetarians in the State. Two women have started a mushroom farm in Maradu, together with a research centre. PRIYADARSSHINI SHARMA catches up with the enterprising duo

PHOTO: MAHESH HARILAL

DELICIOUS AND PROFITABLE Lekha Damodaran (left) and Bhavani Devi at their mushroom farm at Maradu

A delicious mushroom cloud is building up over the city with the setting up of Mushroom Valley at Maradu in November last year. The small farm, a dream project of Dr. Bhavani Devi, retired professor, Agriculture University of Kerala and Lekha Damodaran, proprietor, Indian Logistic Services Integrated, functions as a research centre, apart from producing a variety of mushrooms.

All species

Says Dr. Devi, whose research subject was `Collection, conservation and documentation of mushrooms and fleshy fungi of Kerala', "Kerala is the one place where every species reported so far in the world is found. This is because of the diverse climatic conditions present here. My dream was to start a mushroom valley where we could grow mushrooms for its commercial value and for educational promotion. This will also have a mushroom parlour where visitors can enjoy delicacies made out of them. I want to make Kerala a leading producer and exporter of mushrooms in the world because we can compete successfully in this field."

From the 12 commonly produced commercial species found in the world all of them can be produced in the State. At the Mushroom Valley farm, oyster mushrooms; paddy-straw mushrooms are being produced and the latest being the milky mushrooms. The button mushroom, which is commonly found in the market, is a temperate variety requiring temperatures between 15-20C. Creating and maintaining the temperature artificially will make the production of button mushrooms unviable at this early stage.

Explains Ms. Damodaran who took voluntary retirement as Headmistress of Kendriya Vidyalaya, "The farm imparts training to those interested in cultivating mushrooms commercially. We also provide spawns or seeds. At present we are producing three to eight kilograms of oyster mushrooms a day and have started commercial production of milky mushrooms. These are being sold in the city and the response is good."

Mushroom facts

The two enterprising ladies believe that this `vermin vegetable' is more sinned against than sinning. "There is superstition built around mushrooms that we first need to get rid of. So to create awareness about the usefulness and its safe consumption is our prime aim. Tribal groups all over the forests in Kerala pick, store and eat mushrooms. There are definitely some highly poisonous varieties that grow in the wild," says Dr. Devi. Recalling an incident during her tenure at the Agricultural University, she narrates, "A very rare species, the Pleurotus Japonias was discovered in Thiruvananthpuram in 2002. This mushroom shines brightly in the dark like a tube light. A trainee of mine found a glowing growth around the stump of a coconut tree at midnight and collected it. He said it was the illuminated species of the Pleurotus Japonais. When he showed it to me I did not believe him but then I took it in a dark room and the entire thing glowed brilliantly. I could not believe my eyes for I had read about it in Alice in Wonderland. I had read that in medieval times warriors wore it on their heads during wars. Here it was right in my hand, this very, very rare species. Once the news broke people stared writing to me about such citings. They believed it to be the `yakshi'. Mushrooms near the cemetery were always associated with ghosts. Another glowing species is the Jack-o-lantern." Besides removing the fear, suspicion and superstition about the mushroom, it became essential for the women to tell Keralites about this highly nutritious, vegetarian vegetable, its medical value and its excellent commercial prospect. Most importantly to tell them that it is indigenous to the State and can be cultivated easily. In fact a systematic production can make Kerala a large exporter of mushrooms in the world, the two women believe.

So, in its early days Mushroom Valley is witnessing a positive response from citywallahs and has been able to uncap the mushroom. "People in Ernakulam were a little reluctant about this vegetable in the beginning but not any longer. In the six months that we have been retailing it locally at Rs. 30 for 200 gms, sales have been brisk," says Ms. Damodaran.

Protein

In medical jargon, mushrooms have a `first-hand protein content' as against the chicken with only a `second-hand protein content. This makes it very high in protein . With only a trace of fat and carbohydrate, mushrooms are perfect diet food. It is recommended for diabetics and the latest medical research, according to Japanese reports, proves it to raise body immunity. This makes it an effective diet for HIV affected persons. Longevity is also attributed to the consumption of mushrooms. So grow them and gorge on them as a curry or sautéed; braised or fried; as a soup or on toast. In other words get mushy about mushrooms.

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