STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: It is said that there is no substitute of hard work and ultimately hard work pays. It has been proved by the merchant navy mechanical engineer, Rocky Sharma who hails from Udhampur town of Union Territory of J&K.
Rocky Sharma was working in an International Ship Management Company. During COVID-19 pandemic he came at his home and thought to do something innovative in agriculture to set an example for the other youths of the area. For that purpose, he came at KVK, Reasi and had an interaction with Dr. Banarsi Lal, Sr. Scientist-cum-Head of KVK, Reasi to start an entrepreneurship in agriculture. Dr. Banarsi suggested and guided him for the mushroom cultivation and organic farming. Ultimately he started the mushroom unit of 1000 bags at Mand village of Udhampur distt.under the guidance of KVK, Reasi and Deptt. of Agriculture, Udhampur. He developed a good rapport with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Reasi scientists who upgraded his knowledge on scientific mushroom. Now he has emerged as a successful mushroom grower in his area by beating all the constraints. He is producing the mushroom of commercial level and selling it in local market after proper packaging. He is fetching profits by selling his produce. With his dedicated hard efforts, he has set an example for the other farmers of the area by growing the mushroom at a large scale. Rocky has also given employment to two more youths of the area who are assisting him to manage and sale his daily produce of mushroom.
He has been highly co-ordinated by his family members for his farm activities. He wants to take mushroom cultivation at new heights in J&K and wants to develop mushroom units for round the year mushrooms. According to Scientist and Head of KVK, Reasi, of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu (SKUAST-J), Dr.Banarsi Lal, we regularly guide Mr.Rocky Sharma on scientific mushroom cultivation and provide him all the necessary technical know-how. He added that his endevours are appreciable and recognized at many levels. According to him mushroom can be a good source of income and employment for the rural youths. By observing the successful results of Mr.Rocky Sharma, the other farmers of area are showing keen interest towards mushroom cultivation. He has become a new ray of hope for the other farmers of the area.
