Mushroom Production

The Exec Director explains mushroom growing: Nat'l Farmers Exhibition, Mbeya 2005

Nutritionally, mushrooms rank between meat and vegetables in terms of protein content. Many families cannot afford to eat animal protein source foods because of economic hardships. These foods are eaten once in a while and this state leads to malnutrition. As an alternative, during the rainy season the majority opt to collect wild mushrooms. This exercise requires experience in order to collect the right species (non-poisonous). A number of deaths have been reported due to consumption of poisonous mushrooms.

During the dry season (June to December) there is a big shortage of green vegetables due to a lack of water for irrigation, and the relish for the main meal (Ugali) made from maize flour is scarce. To counteract this snag, there is an opportunity for the promotion of the growing of edible mushroom because of the following reasons:
  1. There is an abundance of crop residues from cereals and legumes (this is a growth media for mushroom)
  2. The temperatures are favourable.
  3. There is a tradition of mushroom consumption by natives in the area.
  4. There is a high demand by people affected by high/low blood pressure and other ailments, as mushroom is medicinal.
  5. It is an environmentally friendly undertaking
Mushroom bags in fruiting room

With this background, the organization embarked on this project by initiating training programs and establishing a spawn laboratory for the production of mushroom seeds. The business would be an income generation for low-income families in addition to a nutritional supplementation. Moreover, mushroom is medicinal, in that it stimulates the body immune system, therefore, a program to work with HIV/AIDS afflicted families will be undertaken in the future when funds are available as outlined below:

Objective: To promote mushroom production and utilization in HIV/AIDS afflicted families in Mbeya Municipality.

A mushroom farmer explaining how crop residues can be wisely used to grow mushrooms. Specific objectives include:
  1. To introduce mushroom in HIV/AIDS afflicted families in order to improve their nutritional status.
  2. To introduce mushroom in HIV/AIDS afflicted families as an income generating enterprise.
  3. To enhance capacity of HIV/AIDS afflicted families on mushroom production and utilization.
Outcomes/Expected outputs of the project would be:
  1. Improved nutritional/health status of the beneficiaries
  2. Recommended technologies on mushroom production available to HIV/AIDS afflicted families.
  3. Mushroom consumption in HIV/AIDS afflicted families increased.
  4. HIV/AIDS afflicted families’ income improved.

If you would be interested in supporting this project, kindly contact the Executive Director.