Agriquest organises forum to explore opportunities, deepen knowledge on Mushrooms

Agriquest organises forum to explore opportunities, deepen knowledge on Mushrooms


By NAN

The Executive Director, Agriquest Africa Network, Amb. Abiodun Olaniyi has organised a one-day forum for farmers to deepen their knowledge and explore opportunities from the Mushrooms cultivation in the country.

Olaniyi made this known at the end of the 3rd AQAN Food Summit, themed: '"Sustainable Mushroom Value Chain from the Farm to Market in Lagos.

NAN reports that the summit is organised by the Agriquest Africa Network (AQAN) to discuss the agricultural value chain and market systems in Africa, with a specific focus on the mushrooms value chain. 

NAN reports that Dried mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many cuisines, offering a concentrated flavor and long shelf life. They're often used in soups, stews, sauces, and stir-fries.

Some benefits of dried mushrooms include: Convenience: Easy to store and transport; Flavor intensity: Dried mushrooms have a more intense flavor than fresh ones; Nutritional value: Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Olaniyi noted that that Nigeria stands to earn one trillion naira from the proper cultivation of mushrooms 

He said the global demand for mushrooms had continued to increase significantly according to FAO report.

The executive director added that with the right policies and investment, Nigeria could become a global leader in mushroom production and exportation.

On how he would assist the participants, he promised to work on the advocacy, capacity building and do some research and development on Mushroom for the farmers.

He said the participants had also heard from the ministry of trade and investment that there was a demand of 200,000 metric tonnes market from Uganda.

The executive director said this was massive and it also tells them that there was a market for mushrooms farming business if exploited.

According to him. that is why we make it a duty to bring in representatives of government on the issue of Mushrooms to let the people hear from the horse's mouth. 

"Olaniyi said: A lot of our participants are excited now because mushroom business is a huge return on investment, it is not a child play, it is a serious business.

"So we are also happy to bring up the need to create a value chain in this Mushroom business.

"For farmers to key into it, they need to participate in the initiative and for them to also start learning about the technology, the production processing, the value chain and the market systems embedded in it."

Also speaking, Dr Adebayo Oyewole from the Federal University of Technology Minna said all stakeholders in the Mushrooms value chain should be trained on the technology know-how to meet with the global international best practices.

Oyewole stated that the cultivation of mushrooms in Nigeria could improve food security and generate income to promote sustainable agriculture. 

The don said with the right investment in training and resources, the industry could become a significant contributor to the country's economy. 

He, however, urged the government and banks to provide soft loans to interested individuals who have knowledge in mushroom science to establish small-scale mushroom farms to reduce unemployment. 

On her part, Mrs Bridget Okolofua urged the Federal and State Governments to give a little bit more focus to the cultivation of mushrooms in Nigeria. 

Okolofua said there was need to increase sensitisation of citizens especially the farmers on the benefits of mushroom cultivation as a means to employment and wealth creation. 

NAN

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