Mary Mutisya
With changing climatic conditions and food seasons, many farmers are going into smart farming to feed their families and earn a living. Some have turned to mushroom farming targeting high end markets where their demand is high. Mushrooms are some of the most nutritious foods, with at least 7 species being medicinal. Some health benefits of mushrooms are;
- Mushrooms support brain health and cognition- Niacin and Copper found in mushrooms promote the function of the nervous system keeping the nerves healthy. Also, mushrooms contain vitamin B5, which is necessary for the production of various hormones that play an important role in proper brain functioning.
- Mushrooms support immunity- The anti-inflammatory effect of mushrooms has been shown to greatly improve the efficiency of the immune system
- Mushrooms are great in the management of blood sugar- Mushrooms have low glycaemic index (the conversion rate of carbohydrates to sugars in the body) as they contain very low amount of carbohydrates, which means they do not raise blood sugar levels
- Mushrooms lower blood pressure- Mushrooms are a rich source of potassium, a nutrient that reduces the negative impact that sodium can have on your body. Potassium also lessens the tension in blood vessels, potentially helping to lower blood pressure
A guide to mushroom farming
According to official statistics from the National Farmers Information Service (NAFIS), Kenya produces 500 tons of mushrooms per year against a demand of 1200 tones. This therefore means that there is a lucrative business opportunity for those interested to invest in the venture and below is a guide for farmers on how to grow mushrooms to tap on their nutritional benefits and earn an extra income.
Growing Conditions
In Kenya, it has been proven that mushrooms can grow in almost all the parts of the country provided there is reliable water supply, shelter and stable temperature ranging from 15℃ to 30℃.
How to get started and house construction
To grow mushrooms, you need land. Idealy a 1/4 an acre piece of land can be adequate to set up a mushroom facility that can give at least 4 tones of mushrooms after every 2 months.
After securing land, the next step is to construct a mud house, which is ideal for providing the ideal growth conditions. Wooden shelves are then placed in the house to utilize on vertical spacing. This can be made with the help of a local carpenter and one can improvise using locally available materials to save on construction cost. During the construction, there is need to ensure that the house is well aerated for proper air circulation.
Substrate Identification and nylon material assembling
After the mud house is ready, identification of the substrate/food on which the mushrooms will grow follows. The substrate can be forest soil, wheat straw, bean straw, millet straw or even rice straw. It is critical to make sure that the substrate is sterilized as the slightest bacterial infection can ruin the entire farm. A bale of wheat straw costs Ksh200 and one will need about 40 bales to start up ¼ an acre of mushroom farm.
Once the substrate is ready, scouting for small nylon bags to prepare the seedlings and big ones for the final planting follows. For ¼ an acre venture, a farmer would need about 2,000 of the nylon bags.
Getting the seeds ready
The final stage in mushrooms farming start up is getting the seedlings (also known as spawns). The most popular (and easy to market) spawns are called button spawns and they can be bought from KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization) or at the JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology). A kilogram of button spawns costs around Ksh1, 000 and 10 kilograms will be enough to get you started. Other varieties of mushrooms that are equally easy to grow include the shiitake and the oyster varieties. After growing the mushrooms, care should be taken until the mushrooms are mature, and this takes 1-2 months depending on the variety.
The Dos and Don’ts of mushroom farming
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| 1.) Always keep the growing environment/facility clean and sterile (2) Farmers are advised to experiment with a small farm before venturing into a big farm (3) Consult an agricultural extension officer in your area for further advice (4) Seek mentorship from farmers who are already doing this to understand what challenges they face (5) It’s advisable for farmers to explore their market options in advance to avoid last minute surprises and disappointments | (1) Farmers are advised to avoid taking shortcuts, mushrooms are very delicate crops and one can lose their entire investment if they don’t follow professional advice in handling them (2) Farmers should avoid buying seeds (spawns) from cheaper sources. It is advisable that they always buy from reputable sellers e.g. JKUAT (3) Farmers should not forget that cleanliness is at the center of your farm’s productivity (4)Don’t be in a rush, take your time, like in any other business mushrooms take time to establish (5)Don’t stop learning, keep researching and keep enquiring to learn the best practices |
How much to invest and returns to expect
To establish ¼ of an acre of mushroom from scratch, one would need to invest about Ksh 430,000. After construction of the facility, and establishment of the basic supplies, the cost of operating subsequent farming seasons will drop to about Ksh150, 000.
For button mushrooms, the entire growth period to harvesting is about 2 months (8weeks) and from ¼ of an acre with about 2,000 nylon bags one can harvest at least 4 tones. A Kilogram of mushroom goes for an average price of Ksh600 and this can translate to as much as Ksh2.4 Million in sales revenue.
Mary Mutisya is a nutritionist working with Icipe. Email: mariahmutisya@icipe.org