Mushrooms: Earning lots from small investments

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On the second day of the Harvest Money Expo, a light shower persisted as if to remind visitors how important rain is in farming.

In a bid to improve their earnings, expo visitors seek expert advice to reap more from farming, which is directly linked to the expo theme, Farming as a Business. 

Some visitors who attended the training session on mushroom growing as a business where tipped on three major factors: cool temperature, humidity and oxygen.

The expert, Abel Kiddu of African Mushroom Growers (U) Ltd, has been growing mushroom since 2010 and has a wealth of knowledge on the subject.

“Mushrooms need low temperature from 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, high humidity and oxygen to sprout,” he said. While urging trainees to grow mushrooms, Kiddu said there is an inexhaustible market for mushrooms.

“Our company even sells mushrooms to Kenya and Congo, so the market is there for mushrooms. In fact, East Africa has a high demand for mushrooms,” he said.

Kiddu was so emphatic about the availability of the market that he offered to help mushroom growers find that market. “Our company will help you find a market if you are having trouble,” he said.

Kiddu explained how lucrative mushroom growing has become because consumers are increasingly becoming health-conscious and mindful of what they eat. He said that many are choosing to consume protein from alternative sources to animal protein.

“That is why they turn to mushrooms as the alternative, so the demand is on the rise. Locally, the middle class is also growing in Uganda, and it is also consuming mushrooms more and more. They are embracing eating protein, but not meaty stuff,” he said.

Kiddu said more restaurants have also added mushrooms to their menus as a sign that the market grows every day. “You have started seeing some restaurants that serve mushroom pizzas,” he said.

Sharing the figures to elaborate his point clearly, Kiddu said the mushroom industry is estimated at $53b, and it is projected that it will triple because people love mushrooms.

Organised by Vision Group, the expo has been sponsored by the Kingdom of Netherlands, ENGSOL, Tunga Nutrition, aBi, Pearl Bank, and Uganda Development Corporation.

Other sponsors are Heifer International, Roke Telecom, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark, Pepsi and Uganda Revenue Authority. At only sh10,000, the expo is a gem for all who want to try earning from green hands.