FAO mushroom farming

A sterilized composted substrate
once inoculated with spawn, can
be used for three harvests and then
recycled by incorporating it as an
organic mulch or fertilizer in other
horticultural or agricultural systems,
which can improve soil structure, or
it can be used as a nutritious fodder
for poultry.
Social assets
People draw upon formal and
informal resources to help meet
their livelihood objectives,
including networks and support
from families, friends, organizations
and membership of groups, such as
mushroom growers associations.
These contacts collectively strengthen
the individual by helping them and
their communities access information
and resources including technical
information, basic training, sources
of mushroom spores, and marketing
outlets to sell their crop.
Cultural, social and organizational
issues are important for determining
the direct and indirect benefits of
mushroom trade for different social
groups. As a result of the high
perishability of mushrooms, it can
be of great benefit, for small-scale
cultivators selling their crop, to be
organized with other growers and
to share transport costs, market
contacts, etc. In addition, working
in collaboration with other growers
may enable cultivators to establish
local production, processing, or
packaging facilities to increase
harvest output or product shelflife
i.e. a drying facility (See Case
Study 5).
Mushroom cultivation represents
a very suitable and empowering
income generating option for women
in particular, because it can be
combined with traditional domestic
duties and can be undertaken at
home. Several programmes related
to rural mushroom production have
given women the opportunity to
gain financial independence, farming
skills and higher self-esteem.
Human assets
Human assets relate to the skills,
knowledge, ability to work and level
of health that people need to pursue
different livelihood strategies and to
achieve their objectives. Mushrooms
are not labour intensive and can
be undertaken as an additional
livelihood activity which fits around
other household or productive
tasks. People with physical
disabilities are fully capable of
accomplishing all necessary tasks
in mushroom cultivation, even if
some modifications in construction,
equipment and tasks are required.
People with mental disabilities
can also grow mushrooms because
several of the key tasks are repetitive
Make money by growing mushrooms
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