Vol. 10, Special Issue 1, Part H (2026)

The present study was conducted to find out the perception of farmers and other stockholders towards mushroom cultivation for entrepreneurship development in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A total of 25 training cum awareness programme were conducted in 22 villages during 2015 to 2020 in which 550 trainees belonging to various groups such as practicing farmers, farm women, rural youths, extension functionaries, house wives, Self Help Group and college students were participated. During the interactions the maximum perception index (22.5) was recorded in Birdline villages in which the members of entire community shown their keen interest in mushroom cultivation. Among all the community members, 81.82 percent of house wives and 63.64 percent of farm women were very curious to take mushrooms as new venture. Among all the participants, 80.31 and 8.32 percent exhibited positive and very positive perception towards mushroom cultivation respectively, while 11.3 percent showed negative perception may be due to of fear of mushroom toxicity or involvement in other business. The study revealed that mushroom cultivation has great opportunity for the farming communities of these islands which is creating a new livelihood option and also improve the status of farm women in the society.