Promotion of Mushroom Cultivation in Namibia

By Lydia N. Horn

Prepared for the Seminar on Edible Fungi Application and Management for African Countries.

Beijing, China November 21-December 05 2007

REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIAMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND FORESTRYDepartment of Agriculture –Research and Training (Plant

production)

Mushroom Production in NamibiaMushroom Production in Namibia

• Mushrooms in general are well known among Namibian farmers and are widely consumed in the northern regions during the rainy season

• Although no formal scientific mushroom cultivation in Namibia has been attempted before the 90s

• In 1999 the first funded project for mushroom was launched in Namibia working in collaboration with the University of Namibia

• Awareness and training workshops started in 2003, where extension and research officers were trained

• Later in 2003, the Ministry of Agriculture,Water and Forestry in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of China sent participants to the training on edible fungi held in Fuzhou City Fujian Province

• Experience was gained and applied at home institution

• A project on mushroom cultivation and promotion In Namibia was encouraged by the Division of Plant Production Research in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry at the beginning of 2004

Why Mushrooms

• mushrooms play a very important dietary role in human nutrition and health worldwide when used as a dietary supplement

• On a dry weight basis, mushrooms are made up of about 30% protein (Oei 1996) and this protein is endowed with all the essential amino acids

• Mushrooms are low in calories and carbohydrates, are almost cholesterol free and are high in vitamins and minerals, all of which serve as important essential requirements for human health (Chang and Miles 1997).

• Contribution to livelihoods in Namibia

• Idle for those who are unable to cultivate fields due to sick health (HIV/AIDS, TB and others)

• Crop diversification

Preparing the mycelium for seed inoculation at the University of Namibia

Inoculation Box for on-farm demonstration

Spawning materials

Field crop residues & Substrate preparation at Omahenene Research Station

A group of Women monitoring the Substrate Steaming during training session

Inoculation of substrate in the laboratory and at the training workshop

Inoculation of substrate continues with Women group and with University of Namibia students

Ideal houses for mycelium and mushroom growth: Namibia

Mycelium development & fruiting bodies

Watering in the mushroom house

Mushroom house inside

Challenges facing mushroom production in Namibia

• Dry weather conditions• Lack of sterilizing equipments• Unavailability/inaccessibility to mushroom strains that are

suitable for Namibian environments• Lack of proper trained personnel in the field of mushroom

production• Lack of know how on the conditions needed for mushroom

growth• Lack of funding sources for the project experimentations

Harvesting and cooking

END