In a major push to diversify agriculture and boost farmer incomes, the Andhra Pradesh government is set to launch a first-of-its-kind "Mushroom Mission", backed by support from the Centre. The ambitious initiative aims to position the state as India's largest producer of mushrooms over the coming years.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to prepare a detailed action plan for the mission, which is expected to be formally announced soon, according to official sources. The project draws inspiration from the state's successful aquaculture model and seeks to create a robust agri-value chain focused on high-value, quick-yielding crops.
The proposed mission will focus on scaling up mushroom cultivation through cluster-based production, infrastructure development, and technology adoption. Officials said the programme will promote high-value mushroom varieties such as button, oyster, and milky mushrooms, which have strong domestic and export demand.
The mission targets the establishment of approximately 1.62 lakh mushroom production units across the state, primarily small and medium-scale operations spanning about 5,000 sq ft each. These units are expected to achieve an annual production of 67,500 tonnes, surpassing Bihar's current output of around 45,000 tonnes, which makes it the leading producer today.
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