Aaranyak, a leading biodiversity conservation organisation, held a training programme on mushroom cultivation aimed at empowering marginalised women in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. In collaboration with Chandrasingh Rongpi Memorial High School (CRMHS), Aaranyak organised the daylong training at the Community Resource Centre in Chandrasing Rongpi village, introducing mushroom farming as a sustainable livelihood option for women from the Kohora River Basin (KRB) and Diring River Basin (DRB).
The training, led by Dr Aparna Jyoti Rabha, founder of Rabha Agrotech and an expert in mushroom cultivation, welcomed 20 women participants from the KRB and DRB Women Collectives. Dr Rabha’s guidance covered essential skills in mushroom farming, with a focus on both theoretical understanding and hands-on practice, aiming to provide these women with an alternative source of income and foster economic self-sufficiency within their communities.
The event also saw the presence of notable guests, including Rupsing Engleng, Accounts Beat Officer, Soil Conservation, Kohora, and T.D. Tuolor, Range Officer, Soil Conservation, Deithor, Karbi Anglong, who offered their support for the initiative. The training curriculum focused on critical aspects of mushroom cultivation, with participants learning to create ideal growing environments, prepare substrates, and cultivate various oyster mushroom varieties.
In practical sessions, participants were guided through each stage of setting up mushroom cultivation, including filling cultivation bags, mixing spawn with substrate, and preparing mushroom-growing cylinders. The training emphasised understanding mushroom biology, life cycles, and the significant nutritional and economic value that mushrooms offer, particularly for small-scale farming.
At the event’s conclusion, Aaranyak’s Uttaran Dutta expressed gratitude to all participants and distributed oyster mushroom spawn, encouraging women to apply their new skills independently. Rani Singnarpi, a participant from Sivoram Terang village, expressed optimism, sharing, “I have practiced mushroom cultivation before, but the results were not always fruitful. Attending this training programme has been an eye-opener for me, and I hope to have a good harvest this time.”
Mirrmili Kramsapi, a CRMHS student, also shared her excitement, saying, “Though I am new to this method of cultivation, I am looking forward to it with high hopes and positivity. Special thanks to Aparna Ma’am for her guidance and motivation, and thanks to Aaranyak for giving us a platform and opportunity to explore this new method of cultivation.”
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Aaranyak’s team members, including Joshna Terangpi, Sarlongki Teron, Beauty Terangpi, Sunny Paul, and Rangsina Phangcho, played crucial roles in coordinating the training and supporting participants throughout the programme.
In a press statement, Aaranyak highlighted its commitment to fostering sustainable livelihood options and biodiversity conservation in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong and Manas landscapes. “Aaranyak is committed towards conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems by supporting indigenous communities through alternative sustainable livelihood activities, education, and awareness programmes,” the organisation stated, noting that the initiative was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and KfW.
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