By Manoj Bhattarai, Okhaldhunga, Oct. 4: Commercial mushroom farming has been the center of attraction for the rural women of Okhaldhunga district lately.

Women are excited for the business as they have started reaping a decent income from the business they began with a small investment.

The farmers of the district are now becoming commercial in mushroom farming of lately.

Earlier the farmers used to be occupied with grass cutting day in and out but now they are active in commercial mushroom farming as well.

The whole routine has changed following the production of the mushroom in a newly built tunnel near the home, said Fulmaya Magar, a resident of Thade, Siddhicharan Municipality-6.

We started off the mushroom farming business by using the local raw material, and now we are making a good money, she added.

Farmer Jasmaya Magar said that she earned more than Rs 80,000 at a time from mushroom farming which is produced twice a year.

I have no problem now in meeting household expenses after I began mushroom farming. Previously, the problem was acute, she shared her happiness.

Farmers are getting good yield of mushrooms using the flowers and straw found in the forest.

As there is an ample of benefits from a small investment in mushroom farming, I got attracted to this business, said Santosh Bhattarai, a local of Likhu Rural Municipality-6.

With my family support, I have been able to make a good profit, said Bhattarai, who left the government job for agriculture, there is a good earning in the village now.

Birendra Tamang, Deputy Technical Assistant of Siddhicharan Municipality, said that the Agriculture Development Branch of the municipality had provided mushroom seeds with 50 percent subsidy and Sitake and Kanya mushroom pocket areas had been started in the municipality under the small business program from this year.

Agriculture Knowledge Center and local levels in the district are also providing mushroom seeds and training to the commercial farmers with 50 percent subsidy.

Though the farmers had to invest in running their own business initially, recently the Krishi Gyan Kendra has been providing financial and technical assistance to such farmers.

More than a dozen farmers have been cultivating mushrooms in this district which has a good marketing potential. Numbers of mushroom farmers have started to increase here as there is a high return of small investment in this business.