The Odisha Mushroom Growers' Federation (OMGF) has urged the state government to accord agriculture status to mushroom products.
The demand was raised during the 12th meeting of the Odisha Mushroom Growers' Federation held in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
The members of the federation demanded that the Odisha government should open mushroom parlours in different cities of the state like Odisha State Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation Limited (OMFED) and Odisha State Poultry Products Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd (OPOLFED).
“The mushroom farmers of Odisha are giving employment to a huge number of people in the state. We demand that mushrooms to be accorded the status of a crop and included in agriculture policy. The tag will empower the farmers to boost their business,” said a member of the federation.
“We want more quality production in the state, for which mushroom parlours need to be established in various parts of the state. We want the production of instant mushroom powder, through which we can produce a variety of mushrooms across the country,” Adwaita Patra chairman of Odisha Mushroom Growers' Federation.