FAO mushroom farming

• implementing rural livelihood
support policies which cut across
a traditionally narrow focus on
one sector (such as agriculture,
or livestock, or forestry), and
instead support rural farmers to
implement diversified livelihood
strategies;
• developing specific policies to
help promote trade, branding,
food standards, etc. in
horticultural products and, in
particular, mushrooms;
• developing incentives for lending
institutions to give credit to small
or community run businesses, and
make credit provision accessible
to the rural poor and small-scale
entrepreneurs.
Technical support and training
in cultivation and processing
A level of technical guidance and
support will be beneficial to most
mushroom growers, particularly in the
initial stages of cultivation, as many
of the technical terms and procedures
relating to mushroom cultivation may
be unfamiliar to potential growers.
Growers need to be familiar with
fungi life cycles, and the importance
of hygiene and sterilization in
developing a successful growing
system. Support may be required
to improve cultivation techniques,
access to appropriate varieties of
spores, and post-harvest care, etc.
The most effective way to impart
skills to the potential mushroom
growers is to teach the fundamental
aspects of the mushroom farming
system and to provide hands-on
training on site. Although requiring
good planning and coordination, a
very positive and practical way of
providing this training is through
Farmer Field Schools (FFSs). These
provide an opportunity for learningby-doing,
based on the principles
of non-formal education, with
extension workers or trained farmers
facilitating the learning process by
encouraging farmers to discover
key agro-ecological concepts and
develop management skills through
self-discovery activities practised in
the field.
An alternative approach to
training includes a study of
market opportunities followed by
community skills assessment and the
provision of training on site, bringing
trainers to the community rather than
sending villagers to a training centre.
This also allows other members of
the family or community to benefit,
learn the relevant skills, and become
involved in the cultivation process.
Participation at national and
international trade fairs can
provide an opportunity to exchange
information about overcoming
challenges and improving cultivation
and processing techniques, etc.
40