FAO mushroom farming

Livelihood opportunities
Trade in cultivated mushrooms
can provide a readily available and
important source of cash income - for
men and women and the old, infirm
and disabled alike (see Case Study 2).
The role played by women in
rural mushroom production can be
very significant. Certain parts of the
mushroom cultivation process, such
as filling substrates in containers
and harvesting, are ideally suited
for women’s participation. Several
programmes have enhanced women’s
empowerement through mushroom
production by giving them the
opportunity to gain farming skills,
financial independence and selfrespect.
CASE STUDY 2 Opportunities for the disabled
One of the best examples of opportunities in mushroom growing for the disabled can
be seen in the recent pioneering programme undertaken by the FAO Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific in the poor Northeastern part of Thailand. The main aim of the
project was to enhance opportunities for rural people with disabilities to become selfreliant
and to show their capabilities, allowing them to re-integrate their community and
be active members of society.
Several positive outcomes were achieved through training people with disabilities:
• People with disabilities can do almost everything
that is required for establishing a successful
mushroom growing enterprise.
• The trainees gained self-satisfaction and self-esteem,
and several became physically stronger.
• Trainees with mental disabilities demonstrated
good skills in basic bookkeeping and developing
marketing strategies.
Make money by growing mushrooms
• Many trainees became trainers.
• Trainees taught mushroom growing techniques
to their family members who support them and
have found mushroom growing to be an important
source of household income.
Source: New Agriculturalist. 2007. A mushroom business in Tanzania.
(http://www.new-ag.info/07/03/focuson/focuson2.php)
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