Far in the “damning hot soils” of Juja—an arid region just 36 km northeast of Nairobi—the Upendo mushroom growers of Molo district attended a one-day workshop on mycelium at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. They also visited Juja-based farmers who are successfully cultivating the fungi in soil-and-wood constructed houses.
Oyster mushrooms are not only delicious and high in protein but provide income to farmers and are especially important to people n arid parts of developing countries.
The Upendo Mushroom Growers started growing oyster mushrooms this year with mixed results—they believe that some of the problems they faced stemmed from contaminated “seeds” (spawn).
The idea behind Friday’s visit, which NECOFA sponsored, was partly to give the growers a greater depth of knowledge about mycelium and partly to demonstrate that they cannot grow quality mushrooms without quality spawn, which they can only get from experts with specialized equipment (the university, for instance). Jomo Kenyatta university uses a mixture of mushroom spores, sorghum, lime-derivate calcium carbonate, dextrose and a number of sterilization gadgets and lab equipment worth approximately $30 to $40 million Kenya Shillings to create high-growth spawn using what they call “binary creation” techniques. Partly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the university is the only institution in East Africa that provides research on mycelium.
IDEA coordinator and practicing mushroom farmer James Njore and his associate John Mucheru also participated in the visit.
Mushroom Factoid: Even expert mycologists haven’t yet fully plumbed the depths of this mysterious lifeform. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, author Michael Pollen has this to say about it: “What we call a mushroom is only the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger and essentially invisible organism that lives most of its life underground. The mushroom is the “fruiting body” of a subterranean network of microscopic hyphae, improbably long rootlike cells that thread themselves through the soil like neurons. Bunched like cables, the hyphae form webs of (still microscopic) mycelium. Mycologists can’t dig up a mushroom like a plant to study its structure because its mycelia are too tiny and delicate to tease from the soil without disintegrating. Hard as it may be to see a mushroom—the most visible and tangible part!—to see the whole organism of which it is merely a component may simply be impossible. Fungi also lack the comprehensible syntax of plants, the orderly and visible chronology of seed and vegetative growth, flower, fruit, and seed again. The fungi surely have a syntax of their own, but we don’t know all its rules, especially the ones that govern the creation of a mushroom, which can take three years or thirty, depending. On what? We don’t really know (374).”
Want to grow your own mushrooms? Click to find out what you need to get started.
Njambi said,
October 19, 2007 @ 11:55 am
This is a very interesting subject to me as I am really interested in getting into Mushroom growing. I would welcome any further information about trainings/workshops or visits that I might participate in to increase my knowledge on mushroom growing.
Ecofarming - Food Security - Poverty Eradication « 20.20 Kenyavision said,
December 8, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
[...] the country to provide on-site training – they also organize visits to research centers, farms, and universities. In addition, NECOFA is at the forefront of reviving the country’s 4-K School Garden Club by [...]
caroline said,
April 22, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Please give more details on mushroom growing. I want details because am thinking of starting to grow some but your website is so shallow.
rosy russell said,
May 6, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Please could you help me start growing mushrooms. I live on the Kitengela and have manure from 2 horses and one cow which i thought might be good for mushroom growing.
I would much appreciate any help you could give me plus telling me where I can buy the spores.
Thanking you in advance
Rosy
Gathiru Muhunyu said,
May 18, 2008 @ 6:07 am
NECOFA, you are on the right track in sustainable rural development for our beautiful country, Kenya
Rosemary Muigai said,
June 3, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Hi, My name is Rosemary and am based in Nairobi, I am interested in mushroom farming and i would appreciate any help and information to get me started.
Regards
Rosemary
anthony said,
September 18, 2008 @ 11:24 am
hi
i am an interested party willing to get involved in mushroom farming but am being held back by various set backs of lack of adequate information,could you advise me on who can see me through in attaining such information
anthony said,
September 18, 2008 @ 11:25 am
please do get back
thank you
mobile 0724482080
mira said,
September 20, 2008 @ 11:06 am
can you discuss more detail about the statement “mushrooms are like the tip of the iceberg”?i need to understand more about it.thank you.
Eunice Irungu said,
November 4, 2008 @ 6:27 am
Dear Sir/Madam,
I live in the Coast Province of Kenya, what is the potential and challenges for growing mushrooms in this region?. Kindly advise.
Eunice
MISHECK MURAGE said,
November 7, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
This is a good initiative in Kenya. You make me proud to be a Kenyan. Could you please help me.I’m a starter in the mushroom growing business in Nairobi.What is the future in this in terms of: the methods of growing oyster mushrooms, marketing economics, the financial challenges. Thank you for this golden opportunity. MISHECK MURAGE
kariuki kahiga said,
January 9, 2009 @ 2:26 pm
Please let me know how I can access the mushroom market. I’ve laid down plans to grow oyster next month.
NECOFA Kenya said,
April 8, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Dear Kahiga,
Thank you for visiting our blog,, We would wish to get in touch with you, to know more about you mushroom production. Please get in touch ;jane_karanja2001@yahoo.com
josphat m runkua said,
January 20, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
kudos for the good work. mushroom growing can greatly improve food security in kenya.
NECOFA Kenya said,
April 8, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Dear Josphat,
Thank you for your comment.
rosy russell said,
May 6, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
please can you help me with information on growing mushrooms. i live on the kitengela and have horse manure plus the manure from one cow. i just have no idea on how to get started.
thank you in advance
Rosy
cyril ondieki said,
May 22, 2009 @ 5:25 am
Thanks for the insight on mushroom farming. I am planning to start mushroom farming later this year but supporting literature and training facilities are scarce. Could you please provide relevant books that can assist me to understand more on mushroom farming? When and where can someone get training on mushroom farming?
Tedd Kemo said,
August 16, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
I come from Kericho. I have been thinking of foraging into mushroom growing. I have poured through some papers on mushroom growing and they all say the same thing: expertise, spawn, huge initial investment. Now if someone can direct me on the first two … even the third … I would be very thankful. Or if anyone would like a partner to venture into the biz just write me.
Theo Marube said,
May 26, 2009 @ 7:55 am
I would like to send my sister for a training in mushroom growing. Please let me know if there is a short training available and how your organisation can help her start the mushroom farming business. Call me on 0722648352
Nderitu said,
June 12, 2009 @ 8:48 am
Hello Am also interested in Mushroom growing and am based in Nakuru so anyone with info please hit back, Nderitu
Ben said,
July 16, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Hi,
Im in interested in Mushroom farming in Eastern province and would really appreciate any information on how i can get started, how to go about the planting of the mushroom seed the cultivation and harvesting a well as possible markets where i can sell the mushrooms.
Ben
Harrison Maina said,
July 20, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
Hi where can i get more information on mushrooms?is there a place where i can get to see it practically.and how can i get the training?am very eager to start this business but i need sufficient knowledge
NECOFA Kenya said,
September 20, 2009 @ 6:42 am
Hey Harrison, thank you for visiting our blog, the best place you can learn about mushroom growing is at Jomo kenyatta University, they normally have trainings depending on ones needs.
Check it out!!
Joshua Waweru said,
July 29, 2009 @ 8:27 am
My names are Joshua Waweru, I reside in Nakuru. I hereby kindly request to be assisted with all the literature regarding Mushrooms growing and more so marketing strategies.
I have a plot which is lying idle and i would like to utilize it and perhaps create employment to the people.
I appreciate in advance for any information that will be availed to me.
I sincerely congratulate you on your 16Th graduation ceremony being held today the 29/7/2009.
Warm regards,
Joshua.
Akomo said,
July 29, 2009 @ 10:59 am
Thanks for this vital info on mushroom. I am interested in growing mushroom in Athi river area, Kenya and I ask for step-by-step guidance on its implementation on a small scale. If available pls also give info about possible export markets.
Karen Kihara said,
July 30, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
Hi
Kindly give me information on how i can get accessed to both large & small scale mushrooms farmers here in Kenya because i am interested in doing this bussiness very soon,Please help me.
lucy said,
November 3, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Please let me know how I can access the mushroom market. I’ve laid down plans to grow oyster next month. and also more information on mashroom growing