Prof. Sami Ayodele, a plant scientist, who specialized in mushrooms, estimates that mushroom cultivation in Nigeria has the potential to generate about one trillion naira yearly if the industry is provided with adequate resources needed to flourish. Therefore, he advocated for the Federal Government to facilitate mushroom cultivation so that farmers may take up the practice as an alternative farming method and source of national income. He mentioned this on Thursday during the 22nd inaugural lecture at Abuja’s National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), titled “Mushrooms: Friends or Foes.”
Professor Ayodele of the Department of Botany in the Faculty of Sciences at NOUN posits that the government should educate and enlighten the general public about the potential for economic growth and social improvement presented by mushroom cultivation in the country. Especially in rural areas of poor countries, he said, mushroom cultivation might have significant economic and social implications given that it has the potential of providing income and work for women and young people.
Mushroom global market was worth $45.3 billion as of the end of 2020.
According to him, the mushroom sector and its value chain have the capability to generate employment for 30 million people across all skill levels, helping to alleviate the burden of unemployment among college grads, vulnerable youths, and women. He made use of China as an example, where the mushroom industry employs over 30 million people and has an estimated $1.6 billion in export value. Only 10% of this population is involved in growing mushrooms; the rest work in related industries including food and beverage production, trading and management, transportation, marketing, retailing, export, among others.
A report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) revealed that the global demand for mushrooms has continued to increase significantly, while the market for mushrooms is huge and growing drastically. As of the end of the year 2020, the global market for mushrooms was worth approximately $45.3 billion, with China being the largest producer. Except for South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, and Morocco, no other African country cultivates mushrooms commercially. Ayodele noted that Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, does not even appear on the continent’s or the world’s scales of mushroom production.
Researchers should hold frequent seminars to educate people on mushrooms.
However, he did stress the importance of being mindful when foraging for wild mushrooms, as it is easy to mistake toxic species with those that are edible. Toxins from poisonous mushrooms can cause substantial cellular damage, impact the autonomic nervous system, and even the central nervous system, as observed by Ayodele, who is also the Director in charge of the NOUN Abuja Model Study Centre (AMSC). The poisons in toxic mushrooms may cause nausea and vomiting. Ayodele also advocated for the creation of a national mushroom germplasm centre to keep records of all edible and medicinal mushrooms found across the country.
In addition, he asserted that mushroom researchers should hold frequent seminars, symposia, conferences, and workshops to educate the Nigerian people on the growing interest in mushroom farming and the role it may play in ensuring the nation’s food supply. Likewise, unemployed youth and college graduates with experience in mushroom science should be eligible for lenient loans to start their own small-scale mushroom farms. The pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria, he said, could take advantage of the country’s rich biodiversity of medicinal mushrooms.
Gov’t should expand the study beyond academic experiments.
The Vice-chancellor of NOUN, Professor Olufemi Peters, praised Ayodele’s vision and speech and pledged to create a mushroom research lab in the institution. He thus, tasked Prof. Ayodele to organize a mushroom research team to enable him to get the institution’s backing. He implored the government, especially the incoming administration, to expand the scope of the study beyond academic experiment. Professor Peters concluded by saying that the institution would always look to its professors and senior academics for guidance on the research methodology.
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Mushroom farming could generate N1trn yearly. – Cultivation of mushrooms might have significant economic and social effects. – Express your point of view.
Mushroom farming has the potential to generate significant revenue for Nigeria, not only in terms of food production but also in the pharmaceutical industry. With the right policies and support from the government, mushroom farming could become a major contributor to the country’s agricultural sector, generating jobs and contributing to economic growth.
Mushroom farming if properly study and do it in the right way has been a very huge way of generating income to people and the giver because of it nutritional value and also have power to cure many diseases.
Mushroom farming could generate N1trn yearly. Mushroom is very nutritious, many people love eating it especially those in village. Mushroom farming we really generate more income for Nigeria if people will through go into the farming
It’s no new news that farming is a good source of income, we just really need to invest more this sector and I’ll revenue in the country will definitely be boosted
Mushroom could generate a huge income for us yearly we need to go deep in the mushroom business it will help in improving our economy and it as many useful that can do a lot of things we need to d the right things so the business can grow well
I agree that the federal government should make it easier for farmers to start growing mushrooms as a means of diversifying our operations and increasing the country’s GDP.
I think it’s important for the government to spread information to the people about the benefits of mushroom farming to the country’s economy and society so people can get involved in it.
Mushroom farming will actually yield more profit when it is used as cash crops. When they are exported, it will help generate more revenue to the country. We should invest in it.
The mushroom farming looks promising and it would be great if we all invest in it, but I don’t know if Nigerians eat mushroom like that but I’m sure if we’re introduced to it we’ll like it.
Honestly, there are several opportunities being looked away from that can generate revenue for the country and creating employment. Such is the case of mushroom cultivation. It is very easy to cultivate, you done need too much space venture into it cultivation. If Researchers could hold frequent seminars to educate people on mushrooms cultivate, it will improve so many lives and contribute to the growth and development of our economy provided that the federation government make the necessary facilities available for the process.
Muchrooms farming is capable of generating revenue for the government and create employment but seems to be ignored by many as a result of ignorant, availability of market, unfavourable government policy or lack of facilities to aid the farming processes. Frequent seminars should be conducted by researchers to educate people on mushrooms and the federal government should make facilities available for the process with an enabling policies.
Farming mushrooms, which have both nutritional value and the ability to cure many diseases, can be a lucrative business if done correctly and with sufficient research.