THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
RAYAGADA,
MARCH 7, 2026
Vedanta Aluminium has
launched a community livelihood initiative that is transforming rural
households in Odisha by promoting scientific mushroom cultivation among women
in Kashipur block of Rayagada district. The pilot programme, implemented in
Dumerpadar and Porlong villages under Sunger Gram Panchayat, is emerging as a
scalable model for rural entrepreneurship and income generation.
Under the initiative,
70 women beneficiaries were provided structured training in scientific mushroom
farming, covering key aspects such as bed preparation, hygiene practices and
maintaining optimal growing conditions. Each participant received two mushroom
beds to begin cultivation, enabling them to start small-scale production from
their homes.
The first cultivation
cycle progressed smoothly from germination to harvest, delivering encouraging
results. Early yields indicate production of around 1–1.2 kg per bed per cycle,
demonstrating the viability of mushroom farming as a low-investment,
high-return livelihood activity. With an input cost of about ₹25 per bed and an average market
price of
around ₹150 per kilogram, the activity
offers strong supplementary income potential for rural households. On average,
each beneficiary is expected to produce close to 2 kg of mushrooms per cycle.
Implemented as a
pilot project, the programme has already shown promise in strengthening women’s
economic participation while fostering micro-enterprise development and
improving household income resilience. Of the 140 beds distributed among the
beneficiaries, nearly 100 are currently in active production.
Encouraged by the
initial success, the company now plans to significantly expand the initiative.
The programme is expected to scale up to around 10,000 mushroom beds and an
equal number of spawn packets within a year. The expansion will be supported
through continued handholding, timely supply of inputs, spawn distribution and
facilitation of market linkages.
Jasoda Naik, a
beneficiary from Dumerpadar village, said the training has opened new
opportunities for women in the community. She noted that learning scientific
mushroom cultivation has enabled them to earn additional income from home,
helping support their families while also building confidence to work
collectively as entrepreneurs.
Hiramani Naik from
Porlong village shared similar sentiments, adding that the programme has taught
them how to prepare cultivation beds, maintain hygiene and care for mushrooms
during the growing process. With the guidance received, many women in the
village are now able to manage the cultivation activity independently.
Over the years, Vedanta Aluminium has supported and empowered more than 16,000 women across its operational regions in Odisha and Chhattisgarh through various livelihood initiatives. Skill development has been a central pillar of these efforts, equipping women with practical abilities, market-ready knowledge and the confidence to become financially independent.
By expanding structured livelihood models such as mushroom cultivation, the company aims to create sustainable economic pathways for rural women while strengthening community resilience and inclusive growth in the region.
