The Department of Agricultural Research Technical and Extension Services has been conducting a series of workshops in the province training resettled farmers in oyster mushroom production.
“I started farming oyster mushrooms this year after undergoing a workshop conducted by Agritex officials. I am looking forward to increasing production after the completion of more incubation rooms at my plot. My plans are to supply vegetable shops and hotels in town,” said Vivian Lungile, a newly resettled farmer in the area.
She uses waste materials such as maize stova, husks and reeds to which pasteurised mushroom spawn is added. After incubating for two to four weeks, depending on the selected materials, the mushrooms are harvested.
One of the cheapest methods of growing mushrooms, which has become popular in the area, is the stuffing of boiled and cooled wheat straws into polythene plastic bags. The seeds are placed between the wheat straws and then the holed bags are hung in a dark mud hut that is constantly kept moist.
Several farmers told The Zimbabwean they were interested in venturing into mushroom production but were hampered by the shortage of mushroom seeds.
“There is no mushroom seed on the market. Most of the farmers here travel to Harare to buy it. Mushroom farming is very profitable because of the cheap inputs costs,” said Edward Moyo.
Matabeleland North Agritex extension officer Treggie Mpofu said: “We attended a mushroom production trainers workshop in China where we learnt this simple and cheap mushroom production technology that we are now imparting to our famers. There is more financial return in mushroom production especially during this time when our tourism sector is improving.”
Post published in: News