Effect of Mushroom Entrepreneurship Development Training Programme on Adoption of Mushroom Enterprise by Youths of Weaker Section

摘要

Entrepreneur is a society's single most productive force and chief instrument of economic progress. Thus, there is a need to organize such a dynamic process of creating incremental wealth. Entrepreneurship development in mushroom was felt necessary for the youths of weaker section who were engaged in oyster mushroom cultivation residing in central India. Therefore, training programmes were designed, implemented, evaluated and follow up measures were undertaken to study the effect of training programmes. A random sample of about 120 youths from rural,tribal and urban slum areas of Amravati district of Maharashtra state in India was drawn from the youths who engaged in oyster mushroom cultivation since a couple of years before. About 24 areas of entrepreneurial development in mushroom were identified and youths were sensitized to select the enterprise. These youths were divided into 24 groups on the basis of their preferences and aptitude level. Training modules were designed for effective execution of training program based on System Approach. Trainees were evaluated for adoption of mushroom enterprise by undertaking follow up measures through designing well structured interview schedule. Evaluation study revealed that about 30 per cent of rural youths started enterprise in fresh,dry mushroom and mushroom powder and the material required for mushroom cultivation. Moreover, about 13 per cent of tribal youths established traditional processed foods enterprise, whereas 32 per cent urban slum dwellers launched enterprises in various food items like fast foods, instant food, supplementary foods, bakery foods, confectionary, ready to eat foods, traditional and continental mushroom foods, and spawn production. Marketing of products was mainly done through small entrepreneurs by one to one and group contacts. Social marketing of mushroom products done by the training organizer had created overwhelming response in mushroom market. Mushroom entrepreneurs have been generating enough income and creating employment for their family and community members. Thus, tremendous effect was found in income and employment generation among the youths of weaker section as a result of training imparted to them.