Potential of mushroom farming remains capped

Highlights

• Country's mushroom market worth Tk800cr
• 1.5 lakh people are involved in mushroom farming
• Country's annual mushroom production is 40,000 tonnes
• Country has potential to increase production to one lakh tonnes
• 1kg of mushrooms can be produced in 1kg of straw
• There is no government initiative for the production of improved varieties
• Diabetes patients and health-conscious people are key consumers

Despite having huge potential for mushroom farming locally, the country still cannot meet the domestic demand amid a lack of initiative for finding improved varieties, adopting modern methods and ensuring preservation facilities.

Farmers and researchers have alleged that there is no change in varieties of mushroom and ways of cultivation and conservation, yet production of the non-traditional crop is increasing in the country. 

Bangladesh lags behind in the production of button mushroom despite huge demand for this variety, they added. 

About 1.5 lakh people are directly or indirectly involved in mushroom cultivation. According to the Mushroom Development Institute, Savar, the country produces over 40,000 tonnes of mushrooms every year with a market value of around Tk800 crore.

The institute is working to develop new varieties of mushrooms and train farmers. But, there is no modern method that can adapt to the country's environment and temperature.

Oyster mushrooms and milky mushrooms are being produced more in the country's favourable environment and temperature. One kilogramme of mushrooms can be produced in one kilogrammes of straw, the agro-waste. 

However, Dr Nirad Chandra Sarkar, deputy director of the Mushroom Development Institute, said it is working to develop new varieties of mushroom and modernise the fungus' cultivation and conservation.

Researchers said success in button mushroom cultivation is not achieved thanks to a lack of a suitable environment and low temperatures. 

Rajshahi University's botany Professor Ahmed Imtiaz, who has been conducting research on mushroom since 2005, told The Business Standard that mushroom cultivation in Bangladesh is still based on primitive ideas and varieties.

"Many new varieties, with several times higher nutritional value, have been developed worldwide and have huge market demand. Due to that, elite restaurants of the country refrain from using local mushrooms," he added. 

Mushroom consumption in Bangladesh is comparatively low, but a section of households, including diabetic patients and health-conscious people, consume mushrooms. Its popularity continues to grow due to its culinary, nutritional and health benefits.

The crop has already earned considerable demand at super shops and restaurants, so there is market potential for mushrooms in Bangladesh.

Dr Nirad Chandra Sarkar said efforts are ongoing to encourage more farmers to take up mushroom farming as an alternative option. There are small- and medium-sized farms in many areas. Some of the mushroom produced here is exported on a small scale.

"If the farmers are interested, this production will exceed one lakh tonnes. We have trained about 9,000 people in person and about 1,400 more online in the last three months, during the Covid-19 period, to grow mushrooms," he said.

Babul Akhter of Magura started mushroom farming in 2007, after being trained by the Jashore Horticulture Centre. Today his mushroom farm on three acres of land is worth Tk100 crore and 400 people work on it.

In recognition of his contribution to agriculture, he was awarded the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award and National Youth Award in 2018.

Babul Akhtar, who sells mushrooms worth around Tk60 crore a year, told The Business Standard, "My farm produces mushrooms worth Tk5 crore every month. Excluding all expenses, I make Tk7 lakh profit a month." 

Inspired by Babul Akhter's success, more than 10,000 farmers across the country, including in his Borokhori village, are engaged in cultivating mushrooms. He also trains 64 aspirant entrepreneurs on his farm every month.

Shafiul Azam Khan of Brahmanbaria said he started mushroom farming in 2005 by making a sterilisation-cum-inoculation chamber where he produces 50 kilogrammes of mushrooms per day.

However, many farmers are discouraged from cultivating mushrooms due to a lack of proper guidance and adaptation to modern methods in cultivation as well as an absence of conservation facilities.

MM Abu Zafar, who used to produce 30 kilogrammes of mushrooms daily at his farm in Chattogram, said, "I was forced to stop mushroom production because of the lack of cooperation from the agriculture officials and not getting money owed from wholesalers."

The agriculturists said a modern method in mushroom cultivation, its storing and right means of selling are needed to meet growing local demand as well as capture global markets. They added that publicity around this is lacking.

Dr Ahmed Imtiaz further said farmers will be motivated to cultivate mushrooms only when they can process and sell their crop regularly. Otherwise, it is not possible to capture the local market.