Personal Details:
My name is U. Isuru Harsha, a Master's research student in Agriculture by research, currently studying in Malaysia.

The Problem:
Imagine a world where the food we eat is grown with fewer chemicals, is more nutritious, and helps protect our planet. My research aims to make this a reality by tackling a major challenge in mushroom farming. Many mushroom farms use chemical fertilizers to get a good yield. This is not only expensive but can also harm the environment.

Our Solution:
My research focuses on grey oyster mushrooms, a delicious and highly nutritious crop. I am investigating a sustainable, natural alternative: Phosphorus-Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB). These beneficial microbes are tiny powerhouses that can unlock phosphorus, a vital nutrient, from the soil. By adding PSB to the mushroom's growing substrate, we can provide the nutrients mushrooms need to grow strong and healthy without the use of synthetic fertilizers. My goal is to use this method to increase mushroom productivity by up to 80%, improve mushroom quality, and boost the income of local farmers.




What Your Support Will Do:
Your generous contribution will directly fund the essential elements of this research:

Lab Equipment and Materials: This includes everything from glassware and petri dishes to the specialized media needed to culture the bacteria and mycelium.

Substrate and Mushroom Spawn: We will use agricultural byproducts like straw and rice husks for the cultivation experiments, as well as the grey oyster mushroom spawn from a local farm.

Data Analysis: Funding will help cover the costs of statistical software and other resources needed to analyze our findings.

Field Experiments: This will allow us to move our work from the lab to a real-world setting to test its effectiveness on a larger scale.

By supporting this campaign, you are not just funding a research project; you are investing in a more sustainable future for agriculture. You are empowering farmers, protecting our environment, and helping to bring healthier food to our tables.