In Kerala, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, touring different parts of the state for over two months now, has succeeded in generating awareness about various welfare schemes of the central government. Taking advantage of the government's efforts to reach out to the people, several new beneficiaries have enrolled in the schemes at many places.  <br />''<br />''Suresh Kumar, a farmer from Kakkoor in Kozhikode, has set up a mushroom unit, availing loan under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. He nurtures an avid passion for oyster mushroom farming. Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture,  he availed a loan for eight and a half lakh rupees to set up a small unit to grow mushrooms.<br />''<br />''Suresh Kumar says, "I have been growing mushrooms on a small scale since 2003. When I came to know about the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture last year,  I applied for a loan of eight and a half lakh rupees, which has a subsidy component of 40 percent, minus the working capital. The scheme was of great help. With the loan, I was able to establish a 1200 sq ft facility to grow mushrooms. On average, I harvest  8 to 10 kg a day. The unit has helped me to repay a substantial portion of the loan and earn a decent income." <br />''<br />''Although mushroom farming has not gained much currency in the area where he lives, Suresh is toying with the idea of expanding his business by enlarging the existing facility and diversifying into value-added mushroom products to augment his income. His success has shown the way forward for others to tap the immense potential that mushroom farming offers to improve household incomes, especially in rural Kerala.<br />