Introduction

Shiitake mushrooms are edible fungi. It is scientifically named Lentinus edodes. They have a meaty and earthy flavour. These mushrooms have broad caps and a range of brown shades, from light to dark. They contain a lot of dietary fibre, vitamin B, iron, copper, selenium, and manganese. Many of the compounds in it are biologically active, including erythritol, copalic acid, and adenosine. They combat cancer cells, promote skin health, strengthen bones, increase immunity, support heart health, reduce inflammation, increase energy and brain function, and support heart health.

Modern Shiitake Mushroom Farming in Nepal

In Nepal, several farmers are involved in the production of shiitake mushrooms. One of them is Ramesh Baidhya. He started his farm in 2070 B.S., in the month of Ashad. Then, in 2074 B.S., he registered the company, called Khowpa Agro Concern. The aim of that company was to attract youngsters into farming. He is trying to revitalize the aggravating agriculture sector. He has also been trying to farm shiitake mushrooms since the company establishment, as they have many health benefits.

Ramesh Baidhya started farming shiitake with 100 logs. He didn’t know anything about the market at that time. He had a very small harvest in the beginning and encountered the problem of finding good logs. But after several years, he started to get a good harvest. And he had no trouble finding the market as well. He went on knowing where the order comes from.

Although he is trying to grow shiitake mushrooms on sawdust, he is having difficulties supplying the logs for their farm. He thinks the government should loosen the policy for transporting the wooden logs, as he brings them for agricultural purposes. The farmers could feel a little relief if the government did that. Soft woods are ideal for shiitake cultivation.

Hazelnut Plnus Nepalensis, Lakur, Saur, Paiyaun are soft woods. He gets good production on Hazelnut and palyaun. He couldn’t harvest a lot in the beginning as he lacked good manpower and the market. Approximately he could produce only 1/2kg per log in the beginning. Now he aims to produce at least 2kg of shiitake mushroom per log. He is moving forwards with that aim and he is getting the result as well. Now about the market he doesn’t has any problem on this regard. He is selling shiitake from six hundred to eight hundred per kg.

He can dry it out and preserve it in case there is an excess of it on the market. He can make it into powder and consume it as tea as well. The entire production is being consumed only here in the domestic market, but as there is huge demand for this mushroom overseas, he can export it to foreign markets as well. He has some pocket area for mushrooms in Bhaktapur but he doesn’t have even a single pocket areas for shiitake mushrooms. Most likely, he will apply for the pocket area next year. The Nepali government is giving a similar allowance to the farmers as well. For that reason, farmers might be feeling happy. This facility is not reaching middle class farmers. For that reason, the government should pay attention. Although there are many government allowances, the project is not reaching the right farmers.

Many farmers have to say that the government should be taking this problem seriously when he goes back to the history of how the shiitake mushroom originated one million years ago. The farming for this mushroom started in east Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, East China, Thailand, and Malaysia long ago. He can find people cultivating shiitake mushrooms professionally in these areas. In the Nepalese context, he can’t find the history available for more than ten to fifteen years since it started to be cultivated professionally. Because it is new and can be done organically, it is popular among young farmers. He needs cold weather for this, and the ideal temperature for mushroom farming is between fifteen and twenty degrees Celsius. According to the research, the altitude should be between 800 and 2500 meters. That is why he has established their farm here in Bhaktapur’s Jhaukhel. He has got huge support from Mr. Ashok Shahi in this regard. Because of his support, the seeds and technology he has brought from Japan, he is aiming to harvest them on their farm twelve months a year. That’s why he would like to thank Mr. Ashok Shahi from the bottom of his heart.