IMPACT OF MUSHROOM UTILITY ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

IMPACT OF MUSHROOM UTILITY ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

In sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 70 percent of the population live in rural areas, crop and animal production, fisheries and forestry activities are direct sources of food and provide income with which to buy food. Increased and diversified production of food for family consumption or as a source of income is a basic prerequisite for improved household food security. Better home and community food processing, preservation and storage and access to marketing facilities can also contribute to household food security by alleviating seasonal shortages in food supply and stabilizing market prices. Agricultural practices and technology as well as the establishment of small-scale agro-processing industries can significantly increase employment and income-generating opportunities and thus positively affect household access to food. Food safety and quality, secured through effective food quality control at all stages of production, processing and handling, also influence nutritional well-being. With regard to infant nutrition, the extent of breastfeeding is important, and hygienic preparation and handling of food are crucial for disease prevention and proper child growth.
Edible fungi can become a viable alternative in the food culture, it is necessary to develop strategies and educational programs for food security, to conduct applied research to assess the incorporation of mushrooms into the food culture of the communities and to consider the acceptability of this food. This requires promoting the properties of mushrooms and considering their nutritional and/or medicinal contributions, self-consumption, commercialization to buy other food and the utilization of by-products or agricultural residues for cultivation, all while paying heed to the implications of food safety and regulations. The contributions of different professionals in social and technical areas in transferring knowledge to the community, is also of great relevance to the acceptability of these ideas within communities.It is well known that mushroom cultivation is a cost-effective way to provide proteins i.e. requiring minimal land, temperate climate, high humidity and waste organic substrates.
This calls for action to develop home based enrichment of traditional foods by exploiting the nutritious foods such as mushrooms that are rich in protein, micronutrients, fiber, and health-giving properties. Mushrooms are ranked to be richer than most food sources except meat in term of protein content. Despite having high nutritional attributes mushrooms are low cholesterol content. Considering their protein, micronutrients content, and health-giving properties, mushrooms can highly contribute to handle the protein malnutrition and micronutrients deficiency in developing and underdeveloped countries.

Mamaland Mushroom Farms (2015).
E-Mail:-Mamalandmushroomproject@gmail.com,
Phone: +255621-080300.
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Mushroom Research And Development Initiative (M.R.A.D.I) paves a way to Wild edible mushroom as underestimated non-wood forest products (NWFP) bio-resource in Tanzania.

Mushroom Research And Development Initiative (M.R.A.D.I) paves a way to Wild edible mushroom as underestimated non-wood forest products (NWFP) bio-resource in Tanzania. 

Our Research, Development & Product Designing Department (RDPSD) conducted several research which reveals how forest products and forestry can contribute to alleviation of poverty and food insecurity. L.E.A.R.N program conducts the Promotion and development of non-wood forest products (NWFP) by improving the sustainable use of NWFP in order to improve income-generation and food security, to contribute to the wise management of the world's forests and to conserve their biodiversity and preparation of a catalogue of mushroom strains indigenous to Tanzania. This will be comprehensive and include, for example, data relating to the location, altitude and nature (e.g. miombo forest, grassland) of the collection site, prevailing climatic conditions, and mushroom distribution patterns. Canvassing of growers and the local population in general about sightings of mushroom fruit bodies growing in the wild will be employed in this program.

However, most information on fungi is available on cultivated species while data on wild edible fungi (WEF) remain scarce. The classical method for identifying a macrofungus involves a microscopic examination of tissues, spores and spore structures. This will at least ensure that the genus is identified. Identification of the lesser known tropical species may also require examination of reference collections. Useful visual clues can be obtained from photographs in field guides (Mamaland Wild Mushroom Field Guide: Epitomized scientific taxonomical knowledge of wild mushroom to indigenous ethnomycology) which is ready-made, straight-forward field guide for indigenous wild mushroom collectors and hunters.

Mushrooms are highly perishable and seasonal, available mostly during rainy season. Extension of shelf life through different preservation methods is essential for value addition. Commonly used as mushroom preservation methods are soaking (in fresh or cold water), salting, boiling and sun drying, as well as smoking. Additionally, edible wild mushrooms can serves as a vital source of nutritious food and if well exploited can contribute to food and nutritional security especially in rural areas. Sustainable conservation of forests can also be achieved through proper harvesting methods to ensure continuous supply of mushrooms. Awareness on proper harnessing, processing and preserving should be provided to communities in rural areas where mushrooms are seasonally harvested as source of income generation and food although mushroom poisoning is another challenge since it is very difficult to differentiate between edible and poisonous mushrooms as some of mushrooms in the same families are very similar.
Mamaland Mushroom Farms harnessing, processing and preserving the edible fruit bodies of Afrocantharellus, Lactarius, Russula, Termitomyces and Amanita for storage and markerting. The mushrooms are cut into pieces and sun dried by Solar dryer innovated by our Production, Innovative Technology & Resources Management Department (PITRMD). Also mushrooms can be spread on a mat or a black nylon sheet in the sunshine for sun drying. Some, at least the acrid species, are parboiled before drying. In that case the dried mushrooms become very hard and need a long soaking or even grinding before use. Mamaland Mushroom Farms is officially offering dried edible wild mushrooms and its products for its valuable consumers. Our dried Lactarius are often sold mixed with dried Cantharellus as shown in pictures. Order yours today!

Mamaland Mushroom Farms (2015).
E-Mail:-Mamalandmushroomproject@gmail.com,
Phone: +255621-080 300.
Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin/Google+:
Mamaland Mushroom Farms. Blog:Mamalandmushroomproject.blogspot.com
Fight Back Against Malnutrition,Save Lives.
Mushroom is Therapy. 

FUNGAL MEDICINE.

FUNGAL MEDICINE.

Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. 
Countless studies have suggested that increasing consumption of naturally-grown foods like mushrooms decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality,diabetes,heart disease and promotes a healthy complexion and hair,increased energy and overall lower weight.

1) Cancer.
Mushrooms contain just as high an antioxidant capacity as carrots, tomatoes,green and red peppers,pumpkins and green beans.
Selenium is a mineral that is not present in most fruits and vegetables but can be found in mushrooms.It plays a role in liver enzyme function and helps detoxify some cancer-causing compounds in the body.Additionally,selenium prevents inflammation and also decreases tumor growth rates.
The vitamin D in mushrooms has also been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by contributing to the regulation of the cell growth cycle.The folate in mushrooms plays an important role in DNA synthesis and repair, thus preventing the formation of cancer cells from mutations in the DNA.

2) Diabetes.
Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar,lipids and insulin levels.One cup of grilled oyster mushrooms and one cup of stir-fried shiitake mushrooms both provide about 3 grams of fiber.

3) Heart health.
The fiber,potassium and vitamin C content in mushrooms all contribute to cardiovascular health.Potassium and sodium work together in the body to help regulate blood pressure.Consuming mushrooms which are high in potassium and low in sodium helps to lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally,an intake of 3 grams of beta-glucans per day which is found in mushrooms can lower blood cholesterol levels by 5%.Also it naturally contains Lavostatin which is primary used for the treatment of dyslipidemia and the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Lovastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate.Mevalonate is a required building block for cholesterol biosynthesis and lovastatin interferes with its production by acting as a reversible competitive inhibitor for HMG-CoA,which binds to the HMG-CoA reductase.

4) Immunity.
Selenium has also been found to improve immune response to infection by stimulating production of killer T-cells.The beta-glucan fibers found in the cell walls of mushrooms stimulate the immune system to fight cancer cells and prevent tumors from forming.

5) Weight management and satiety.
Dietary fiber plays an important role in weight management by functioning as a "bulking agent" in the digestive system. Mushrooms contain two types of dietary fibers in their cell walls: beta-glucans and chitin which increase satiety and reduce appetite, making you feel fuller longer and thereby lowering your overall calorie intake.

Mamaland Mushroom Farms (2015).
E-Mail:-Mamalandmushroomproject@gmail.com,
Phone/WhatsApp:+255621-080300.
Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin/Google+:
Mamaland Mushroom Farms. Blog:Mamalandmushroomproject.blogspot.com
Fight Back Against Malnutrition,Save Lives.
Mushroom is Therapy.
#Mushroom_Is_Therapy.

MUSHROOM PRODUCTION AS A WAY OUT POVERTY TO LANDLESS FARMERS IN TANZANIA.

MUSHROOM PRODUCTION AS A WAY OUT POVERTY TO LANDLESS FARMERS IN TANZANIA. 

Mushroom is an important fungi with nutritive and medicinal value.It can also be cultivated domestically in a small scale by landless people.The climate of Tanzania is highly favorable for high volume of mushroom production.The cultivation of mushroom is one of the most lucrative agricultural job.In our study the profitability of mushroom cultivation was found comparatively higher than that of cassava,rice,and cotton,the most popular cash earning crops in Tanzania.As funding to promote the production and consumption of mushrooms is limited,local governments and NGO's can play vital role to develop mushroom agriculture to arise at industrial level which can create ample employment opportunities both in semi-urban and rural areas.This suggests that the potential of mushroom cultivation could be a possible offer to alleviate poverty and develop the life style of the vulnerable people in Tanzania.

It is hoped that the new hot industry of mushroom cultivation in Tanzania will soon provide an important tool for income generation and the creation of food security for thousands of households. Unlike other agronomic crops,the set-up,costs-benefits and space for mushroom cultivation are recommendable.Fertilizers, machinery and pesticides are not much used, the market price is relatively high and profit margins for mushroom crops can be considerably higher than traditional crops.In general the project takes very little space and can produce returns within a short period of time.Tanzanian farmers who are using local varieties of seed can grow cassava and maize crops that take an average of seven months to reach harvest maturity.This time period is equivalent to at least three cycles of mushrooms cultivation.Considering this scenario,the relative profitability of these three crops can be compared even the input costs of mushrooms enterprise were to be doubled and would still remain more profitable than that of either cassava,maize or rice .Therefore, potential mushrooms cultivation may play an active role to employment generation and thus alleviate poverty. 

The main objective of this report is to focus on the alternative job opportunities which could be potential income source as well as to prove the economic viability of mushroom cultivation and how it will aid and promote poverty alleviation in Tanzania.The term ‘mushroom’ is ‘a macro-fungus with a distinctive fruiting body which can be either hypogeous or epigeous,large enough to be seen with the naked eye and to be picked by hand.From a biological taxonomic point of view,mainly basidiomycetes but also some species of mushrooms belong to ascomycetes.The number of mushroom species on the earth is estimated to be 1,400,000 and only 10% are known. The proportion of useful mushrooms among the undiscovered and unexamined mushrooms may be 5%,which can be of possible benefit to mankind.
Mushroom cultivation can be popular to income generation among the women in Tanzania because of its suitability to their works and life style.As they are especially responsible for household works and taking care of their children, thus they can easily accommodate their time for mushroom cultivation.This product is highly nutritious and a good food for their children and the older as well. They also obtain some money from this product because of its high economic value.They can utilize the agricultural waste, and thus mushroom cultivation can improve the life of many poor families in Tanzania.Cultivation of mushrooms is labor intensive for the countries where jobs are rare.In fact, some technologies can use family labour thus providing employment for all of the family members.Unfortunately, funding to promote the production and consumption of mushrooms is limited in Tanzania.But the potential of mushroom cultivation to poverty reduction among the vulnerable groups like women are especially encouraged.In this context,an assistance of the local government is important for the development of mushroom industry which can create job opportunities both in semi-urban and rural areas.Our findings indicate that the growing set-up,costs-benefits and space for mushroom cultivation are recommendable as well as retun-in is easier than other crops.For more information about mushroom cultivation and technical support contact us through address below:

Mamaland Mushroom Farms (2015).
E-Mail:-Mamalandmushroomproject@gmail.com,
Phone: +255621-080300.
Twitter/Facebook/Linkedin/Google+:-
Mamaland Mushroom Farms.
Blog: Mamalandmushroomproject.blogspot.com
Fight Back Against Malnutrition,Save Lives.
Mushroom is Therapy.
#Mushroom_Is_Therapy.