MUSHROOM PRODUCTION AS A WAY OUT POVERTY TO LANDLESS FARMERS IN TANZANIA-Dr.Kalonga,AE.    

       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 favourable 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 NGOs 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.According to estimate of our research,the Capital of 200,000 will earn a profit of between Tsh 800,000 and 1,500,000 within three months of cultivation.In the estimated project,one mushroom grower can produce about 3~4 crop cycles,2 tons per year on average.Therefore,he or she can earn between 8,000,000~10,000,000 Tsh per year.For more information about mushroom cultivation and technical support contact us through address below:

Dr.Kalonga,AE.

Project Manager.

Mamaland Mushroom Farm(2016).

E-Mail:-Mamalandmushroomproject@gmail.com,

Phone:+2550682757566/+255752007108.

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