This article focuses on mushroom farming in Kenya. Mushroom farming may not be a common venture in Kenya, but it is one of the most profitable crops to grow in the country.
Kenya produces about 500 tons of mushrooms annually. This is way below the projected demand which is 1200 tons. About 700 tons of mushrooms has to be imported in order to meet the deficit. One kilogram of mushrooms costs about Kshs 600 in the local markets. This implies that mushroom farming is one of the untapped agribusiness ventures in the country.
Mushrooms are mainly grown in areas such as Kericho, Kisii and Eldoret, then later transported to Nairobi where there is a ready market. It is believed that Nairobi has the highest demand for mushrooms in Kenya.
Types Of Mushrooms Grown In Kenya
There are several types of mushrooms grown in Kenya. Some are edible while others are non-edible. The edible mushrooms that are mostly grown include;
- Button
- Shiitake
- Oyster
- Chinese
- Termitomyces
- Straw mushroom
Button is the most common type of mushroom grown in Kenya. It takes about two months to mature. However, they are prone to diseases, unlike the oyster mushrooms which are disease-resistant.
Mushrooms have a high nutritional value. They are rich in nutrients and vitamins such as Vitamins B1, B2 and C. They also contain minerals such as iron, copper, potassium and phosphorus.
Conditions Necessary For Growing Mushrooms In Kenya
- Shelther
- Water supply
- Temperature of about 15-30°C
Mushrooms require very little space to grow. 1/4 acre of land can yield approximately 2 tonnes of mushrooms. This is after every two months, especially for button mushrooms.
Mushroom seedlings, also known as mushroom spawns, can be bought from professional propagators or agencies such as KARI. One kilogram of mushroom seedlings costs about Kshs 600.
List Of Mushroom Buyers In Kenya
1. Grand African Mushrooms
Location: Nairobi
Contact: 0712 244 692
2. Mushroom Blue Kenya
Contact: 0715 741 222
Email: info@mushroomblue.co.ke
3. Mush-tech Mushrooms
Location: Eldoret
Contacts: 0728 741 060
4. Richmum International Limited
Contact: 0739 262 001
Email: richmumintltd@consultant.com
5. High Garden Mushrooms
Contact: 0717 225 431
6. Wega Mushrooms
Contact: 0789 513 420
7. Syenta Mushroom Enterprise
Contact: 0710 451 454
8. Icara Farms
Location: Naivasha
Contact: 0722 285 017
9. DimJim Mushrooms
Location: Nakuru
Contact: 0736 232 478
10. Mushrooms By Anne Kimathi
Location: Imenti House, Shop C-6, Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi
Contact: 0721 443 198
