WEST NILE FARMERS ADVISED TO INVEST IN MUSHROOM GROWING

Mushroom from at the Arua presidential farm
 
By Martin Anguyo
Arua City

Farmers in West Nile are being encouraged to venture into mushroom growing due to the high demand for the product in local markets.
According to Aldo Aputa, the manager at the Presidential Demonstration Farm in GiliGili, mushroom growing can be a lucrative business, especially for small-scale operations that require minimal initial investment.

“The business is lucrative and since there is technical gap in it, very few farmers are growing it and a serious farmer can also the take advantage of this monopoly, and as one of the producers of mushroom, we have seen that the market of mushroom is really there and we need more people to come up and join us in this project” said Aldo.

Currently, Arua Main Market sees a steady supply of mushrooms on different days, indicating a strong demand. However, Beatrice Adiru, a vegetable dealer, notes that the demand often exceeds the supply, urging farmers to consider mushroom cultivation “Mushroom prices range from 1, 000 to 7,000 Ugandan shillings depending on the sizes making it a profitable opportunity for farmers to invest in mushroom cultivation” said Beatrice.

Monica Asiru, another vegetable dealer, echoes this sentiment, stating that many customers inquire about mushrooms, but they are unable to meet the demand ”With a steady market demand, mushrooms are often in short supply, as evident in Arua Main market, where they are currently unavailable“ noted Monica.

With its potential for high returns and relatively low startup costs, mushroom growing presents a promising opportunity for farmers in West Nile. By adopting this practice, farmers can capitalize on the existing market demand and improve their livelihoods.