The Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) University of Agriculture (UoP) Peshawar, in collaboration with Department of Plant Pathology and Al Furriyaat organized a day long training workshop and expo on mushroom cultivation.
The workshop was titled: "Practical Mushroom Farming, Value Addition & Commercialization: Fungi Fiesta, Mushroom & Byproduct Expo 2026", said a release issued here Friday. The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Sarzamin Khan, Vice Chancellor (VC) UoP who inaugurated the expo. Resource person Muhammad Zeeshan briefed Vice Chancellor and other participants on the mushroom stalls displayed at the expo.
Addressing the participants, the VC stated that such training workshops and expos provide valuable learning opportunities for students. He highlighted the nutritional, medicinal, pharmaceutical and commercial importance of mushroom cultivation. He emphasized that graduates should learn mushroom farming technology and adopt it on a commercial scale.
© Associated Press of Pakistan
He underscored the role of mushrooms in ensuring food security and mitigating the effects of climate change. He added that universities should not only focus on awarding degrees but also on equipping students with practical skills to become responsible and self-reliant citizens.
Director ORIC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arif and Chairman Department of Plant Pathology, Prof. Dr. Asad Ali also spoke in detail about the importance of mushroom cultivation. They highlighted its role in addressing food security, nutritional deficiencies and climate change and also discussed its medicinal potential in preventing certain types of cancer.
Resource person Muhammad Zeeshan along with other experts delivered technical sessions on mushroom production technology covering aspects such as nutrition, medicinal and pharmaceutical uses, business opportunities and culinary applications. In addition, training on mushroom cultivation and substrate preparation was also provided.
The workshop was attended by Prof. Dr. Iqbal Munir, Dr. Sartaj Alam, Dr. Shahen Shah, Additional Directors ORIC Dr. Nazir Ahmad, Dr. Mudassir Iqbal, Dr. Majid Sohail Hashmi, Dr. Rafiullah, Dr. Ibadullah, Director IRNUM Hospital Peshawar Dr. Muhammad Akif, Dr. Ibrahim from NIFA, Muhammad Rashid and Hammad Daud from Qureshi Industry, Dr. Saleem from the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Haripur, Dr. Haseena Bangash and Rubina Begum from Khyber Medical University Peshawar, researchers, farmers, extension workers and large number of students.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan
