Network linkage and learning-based development for mushroom production

Abstract

     This research collected a body of knowledge on mushroom production residing in several sectors to form a basis for developing a mushroom production learning resource. The research objectives were: 1) to explore agricultural wisdom and the body of academic knowledge on mushroom production, 2) to analyze the approach linkages of mushroom-production networks, and 3) to develop a mushroom-production learning resource. Data were collected from field informants including experienced academic staff from higher educational institutions, mushroom-production farmers, and mushroom-production networks. Field data were afterward analyzed in conjunction with relevant academic documents on mushroom production. The research findings were: 1) The body of knowledge on mushroom production has been developed continually both in the academic and farming sectors in response to changing contexts and production factors. Particularly in the farming sector, adequate production benefit for pursuing a career in this field was a consideration. 2) The success of the linkage of mushroom-production networks resulted from collaboration between the scholars in mushroom production and mushroom-production farmers with the support of government agencies and local governments. 3) The model of mushroom-production learning resource together with a mushroom-production training curriculum could be synthesized from the collection of experiences provided by selective cases, in conjunction with the readiness of the institution’s farm at the Department of Human and Community Resource Development. The synthesized model was seen to be suitable to serve the needs of target groups with learning experience in every step of mushroom production. 4) It was found that there was a positive to highly positive level of satisfaction with training activities from the implementation of the training curriculum on mushroom production for target groups with different needs, namely those interested in entering a career in mushroom production, those with a general interest, and students interested in mushroom production.