A comprehensive two-day hands-on training was held from June 5 to 6, 2024, at FQSRI, PARC-SARC, Karachi in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology (FUUAST), Karachi, aimed to spread awareness and provide practical training on the spawn production and cultivation of milky and rishi mushrooms. Dr. Uzma Sitara, Senior Scientific Officer, FQSRI, PARC-SARC, served as the Training Resource Person.

The primary objective of the training was to educate faculty members, students and interested growers about the techniques and business prospects of mushroom farming. The workshop was attended by approximately 50 enthusiastic participants. The focus was on two types of mushrooms, milky mushrooms and rishi mushroom known for their nutritional value and medicinal properties respectively. Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri (DG, PARC-SARC) and Mr. Parwaiz Ahmed Baloch (Director, FQSRI, PARC-SARC) during the inauguration session extended their thanks to all participants and organizers for making the event a success. They reiterated the potential of mushroom farming as a sustainable and profitable venture and encouraged ongoing participation in future training programs. All trainees actively participated in various activities, including substrate preparations (utilizing wheat straw and sawdust) with chemical and non-chemical treatments, tissue culture, autoclaving, inoculation, spawn preparation, growth room management, and mushroom harvesting. The sessions covered efficient packing and storage practices crucial for minimizing post-harvest losses and ensuring pest-free mushroom production. The participants had the opportunity to inquire about mushroom production and marketing and were satisfactorily convinced.

The event concluded with a formal ceremony, Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri and Mr. Parwaiz Ahmed Baloch extended their gratitude to the participants, organizers, and the chief guest for making the event successful. Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri, appreciated the collaborative efforts of PARC-SARC and FUUAST. He emphasized the potential of rishi mushroom farming as a commercial crop commodity and highlighted its dual benefits, generating income for farmers and enhancing dietary practices with its medicinal properties. Additionally, Mr. Mohd Rafeeq and Miss Neeha Ashfaq, two growers who completed a two-week mushroom training course at PARC-SARC, shared their insights with participants, with plans to initiate commercial mushroom farming in Karachi.

Dr. Munazza Danish, Chairperson of the Department of Biotechnology, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zahid, Dean of Science and Technology, and Dr. Sajid Jahangir, Registrar at FUUAST, expressed their gratitude to the organizers of FUUAST, Dr. Zainab Bibi and Dr. Farzana Usman, Assistant Professors, as well as to the participants and management teams of PARC-SARC. They highlighted the importance of introducing mushroom farming in both urban and rural areas of Sindh province. They also pledged their full support to uplift agri-business-related activities. The event underscored the potential for Rishi and Milky mushroom farming to become a significant agricultural venture in the region, promoting economic development and improved dietary practices. Certificates were distributed among all participants