Vedanta Aluminium has successfully launched the first mushroom cultivation cycle as part of its community livelihood program in Dumerpadar and Porlong villages of the Sunger Gram Panchayat, located in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district.
Implemented as a pilot initiative, the program has shown potential for enhancing women’s economic participation, fostering microenterprise skill development, and improving income resilience. Out of the 140 beds distributed, nearly 100 are currently in active production. Vedanta Aluminium plans to scale the initiative to 10,000 beds and an equal number of spawn packets within a year, backed by ongoing support, timely input supply, spawn distribution, and market linkage facilitation.
Jasoda Naik, a beneficiary from Dumerpadar village, expressed, “Through this initiative, we have learned scientific mushroom cultivation, enabling us to earn additional income from our homes. This has helped us support our families and has given us the confidence to work together and grow as entrepreneurs.”
Hiramani Naik, a beneficiary from Porlong village, added, “We learned how to prepare the beds, maintain hygiene, and care for the mushrooms during the growing process. With this guidance, many women in our village are now able to manage the cultivation at home and participate in this livelihood activity together.”
Over the years, Vedanta Aluminium has supported and empowered more than 16,000 women across its operational areas in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, enabling them to strengthen their household incomes and enhance their socioeconomic resilience. A key aspect of this impact has been skilling, which equips women in local communities with practical skills, market-ready knowledge, and the confidence to become financially independent. By expanding structured livelihood models such as mushroom cultivation, the company continues to create pathways for women to participate meaningfully in economic growth.
