A four-day hands on training event was conducted by Dr. Uzma Sitara, SSO, FQSRI, PARC-SARC, as Training Resource Person held at Shikarpur Sindh organized by HIDAYA Trust on January 16 to 19, 2024. The aim of the training was to spread awareness and to train the progressive farmers, members of NGOs and school teachers about spawn production and cultivation of Oyster mushroom to start mushroom farming in rural and less developed areas of Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts of Sindh. During the first two days, male participants were trained however, the last two days were specified for female trainees.

All trainees actively participated in a variety of 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.

During the discussion session, participants had the opportunity to inquire about mushroom production and marketing and were satisfactorily convinced. Participants affirmed their dedication to apply the knowledge they had gained, to contribute actively in the advancement of oyster mushroom farming, and committed to participate in upcoming training sessions in various locations of Sindh provinces.