Shiitake mushroom to tickle palate soon

    14-May-2019


By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 13: In an attempt to bring Shiitake mushroom to the table of the people in a large way, a group of Japanese experts have begun imparting training to 10 staff of Salai Agro Production Pvt Ltd Mushroom Unit, at  Lamshang road Lairenkabi, on the steps to cultivate the mushroom variety which grows only in areas  with temperature under 5 degree Celsius.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, the Manager of Salai Agro Production Pvt Ltd Mushroom Unit, Tongbram Naobicha said that one of the factories of the  unit was recently expanded and it has been around three months since a large godown was built for cultivating Shiitake mushroom.
Around three weeks ago, three experts on Shiitake mushroom from Japan were invited to Manipur by the chairman of Salai Holdings and they have been providing necessary training to 10 staff of the unit, he said, adding that the three experts are Sales Department Manager of Rion Thermal Plant & Engineering Co Ltd, Koichi Shimada, mechanic Maruyana Shohei and Dr Babla Shingha Barua of Fujishukin Co Ltd Research and Development.
The experts taught that Shiitake mushroom need to be cultivated over a period of around 100 days inside a cold storage under 5 degree Celsius.
As per the experts, after 100 days, the plastic covering the mushroom can be opened and depending on the ripeness of the mushrooms, they an be harvested after a period of around 3 to 10 days. It is also imperative for the workers to enter the cold storage after proper washing or sanitising their whole body. In the international market, Shiitake mushroom is sold for around Rs 1250 per kg. However, how much the mushroom will cost in Manipur will be fixed after proper deliberation among Salai Managing Director, Board of Directors and Smart Society, Naobicha explained. Two of the experts returned to Japan yesterday while the last one will leave Manipur on May 16, he said.
The unit Manager continued that Shiitake mushroom are delicious and are packed with nutrituous qualities as well as medicinal properties.