A total of 28 youths are taking part in a month-long training in Mushroom Production which begins today. This is a second batch of training in Mushroom Production conducted by Rural Development Training Centre, Zhemgang under Skills Development Program (SDP) of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources.

The training aims to enhance each participant’s skills and knowledge on cultivation practices of shiitake and oyster mushrooms to create self-employment and fulfill the domestic needs. The participants will also learn to maintain career professionalism and safety in features of mushroom biology, mushroom poisoning, sustainable harvesting of wild mushroom, mushroom spawn production and multiplication, and post-harvest of mushroom and value addition. An integrated course will also cover incorporation of basics of book and record keeping, economic analysis, and business plan development. Upon Completion of the training, the participants will also be provided with a 2 weeks Basic Entrepreneurship Course.

The SDP is to mitigate the socio-economic impacts caused by the pandemic and to respond to the challenges posed by pandemic and to enhance the country’s economic resilience in the post-pandemic situation. The SDP program is also envisioned to benefit job seekers, laid-off workers, overseas returnees, and those affected by the current pandemic. More than 108 skilling areas in nine priority sectors are identified for implementation under the SDP in various public institutes and training centres.