Impact of Mushroom Production and Post-Harvest Management on Promotion of Agri-Preneurship and Alternative Livelihoods of Rural Youths (Women) Under Arya Project of Sambalpur District

Abstract

The Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) programme implemented by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research aims to promote entrepreneurship among rural youth through agri-based
enterprises. Mushroom cultivation has emerged as a promising enterprise due to its low land requirement,
high nutritional value, and income-generating potential. However, the adoption of mushroom enterprises
among rural youth remains limited due to several technological, economic, marketing, and institutional
constraints. The present study was conducted in the Sambalpur district of Odisha to identify and prioritize
the constraints perceived by rural youth in adopting mushroom enterprises under the ARYA programme.
A total of 120 rural youth beneficiaries were selected using purposive sampling from villages covered by
the Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Primary data were collected through a structured interview schedule. The Garrett
ranking technique was employed to analyze and prioritize the constraints. The results indicated that lack of
organized marketing channels (Rank I), lack of technical knowledge on mushroom cultivation (Rank II),
high initial investment for infrastructure (Rank III), limited availability of quality spawn (Rank IV), and
lack of institutional credit facilities (Rank V) were the major constraints faced by rural youth. The findings
highlight the need for improved technical training, market linkages, financial assistance, and extension
support to strengthen youth-led mushroom enterprises. Strengthening these components will significantly
contribute to sustainable agri-entrepreneurship and rural livelihood development in the region.