Kirya Abubaker a mushroom farmer with his colleagues hold products that are retrified from Mushrooms at Farm in Kiira, Bulindo Wakiso district on the 10th September 2024.
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Mushroom growers in the Kampala metropolitan area have appealed to the Government for financial support to go towards acquisition of a collection centre.
This, they said, would enable them to gain easy access to the market and in acquisition of value-addition materials to enable them to increase their income base.
Abubakar Kiirya, a mushroom grower at Looks Good Farm located in Bulindo Kira municipality in Wakiso district, said they have potential to expand and supply the city market of all required mushrooms only if the Government would support them.
“This will help us increase our production as well, and be in a position to supply more as we fight illnesses such as cancer, among others,
Mushrooms are low in calories and contain antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to any diet. Beyond their nutritional value, mushrooms have significant health benefits, including boosting the immune system, reducing cholesterol levels, and potentially fighting cancer.
He said mushroom cultivation, which is uniquely suited to urban environments and does not require large tracts of land or direct sunlight unlike traditional crops, requires proper storage, which they lack.
“They can be grown in small spaces such as basements and garages, making them ideal for urban dwellers with limited space. You don’t need a very big space. At the backyard of your house, you can start with 200 gardens of mushrooms costing about sh600,000,” he said.
He requested for Government direct intervention.
“We request President Museveni to help us acquire the required machinery like dryers and a collection centre where mushroom farmers can gather their produce in large quantities to access bigger markets,” said Kiirya.
He advised farmers to use papyrus and poles which are easily accessed. “You only need water to irrigate the mushrooms two or three times a day depending on the weather. You don’t need chemicals to spray. Mushrooms are purely organic,” said Kiirya, adding that if one can construct a sizable structure of about 15 feet and put shelves or strings, it can accommodate over 1000 gardens of mushrooms.
He said he started his business in 2017 after realising that mushrooms, a versatile and nutritious food source, rich in protein, vitamins and minerals had a huge market yet scarce.
Kiirya added that mushrooms grow quickly with some varieties ready for harvest in as little as four weeks and each of the 200 gardens on average will give you 1.5kgs of fresh mushrooms in its lifetime of three to four months, selling them at a minimum of sh5,000 a kilogram.
“This can give you about shs.1.5 million for those 3 to 4 months.”
Because of this rapid turnaround that allows for multiple harvests per year, providing a steady source of income, many urban dwellers have embraced the initiative which now requires collective efforts to ensure quality and easy access to the market.
Livingstone Bossa, a resident of Masajja in Makindye Saabagabo informed said that he used sh1 million acquired from the Parish Development Model to establish a mushroom business which he says is doing well. From mushrooms, Bossa also produces organic soap, lotion and charcoal lighters.
“We have seen you support coffee farmers, but you can also support us because mushrooms have a good market in East Africa especially in the DRC,” Arnold Ssekulima, a mushroom grower in Nansana pointed out.
Yona Bahimbwomugisha at Kijjabijo in Wakiso said he learnt about the venture after visiting President Museveni’s demonstration farm in Kawumu in 2018. He says mushrooms need a controlled environment with proper temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
Bahimbwomugisha said he had sh600,000 by then, which he used to purchase 200 gardens of mushrooms which he started with and he’s now able to harvest 20kgs of mushrooms per week, fetching sh100,000 after selling at shs.5000 per kilo.
Racheal Najjuuko, the CEO Saci Innovations Uganda Limited which deals in Mushroom value addition, says apart from having a collection centre and packaging house, farmers need more training to learn the basics of mushroom cultivation.
Enid Kalinte of Bunga, another mushroom grower in Wakiso says she started with 80 gardens but has now doubled production due to the growing demand for mushrooms.
She says by investing a small amount of capital, women and housewives who often have limited access to economic opportunities can create themselves a sustainable source of income which can help cover basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare hence breaking the cycle of poverty.
Princess Nassolo Pauline, a Senior Presidential Advisor- Elderly, last week toured different mushroom farmers around Kampala Metropolitan area, many of whom were inspired after visiting the Presidential demonstration farm in Kawumu, Luwero district.
She pointed out that mushroom farming, an increasingly popular venture, is offering the urban poor a sustainable and profitable way to improve their economic situation with minimal capital investment.
“Through coming together, mushroom farmers will have easy market access and improved quality controls for better exports,” she said.
