Help Ugandan growers NEWS
A few years ago, on behalf of PUM* the Netherlands, Peter Christiaens and Wim Joosten visited a training institute for oyster mushroom growers in Uganda - the Mushroom Training and Resource Centre - to investigate the possibility of the school including Agaricus bisporus growing in their training package.
W
im Joosten: “As we know, growing common mushrooms is a process that is more challenging than
growing oyster mushrooms. Nevertheless, we saw a good opportunity to promote this in Uganda, especially as the MTRC has a very capable management team. The climate condi- tions in Kabale, the region where the school is located, are also very suitable and there is sufficient availability of raw materials. But the most important factor was the highly motivated students who were keen to earn a living by gro- wing mushrooms, and contribute to the often bland local diet. In 2017, an article in Mushroom Business 84 included a call to action to sponsor a student for €50, who could then follow training at the institute. Thanks to this and other initiati- ves such as the mushroom golf tournament in the Netherlands, we have found generous spon- sors for 140 students.”
The initiators see many parallels between the current situation in Uganda and the growth of the mushroom industry in the Netherlands following WWII. “There are the same prospects for a flourishing industry to emerge. So why not offer the young generation in Uganda the same bright future? In 2019, we started raising funds to build a modest phase I and phase II composting facility on the grounds of the MTRC and some small trial growing rooms for phase III and harvesting. Good spawn supply is guaranteed by the labora- tory, set up by Mycelia. The mother cultures are purchased from reputable spawn producers. Allen Kiiza, who worked as a MTRC teacher, and granted a scholarship for a year to complete a master’s degree in ‘Agricultural Pro- duction Chain Management’ at a Dutch university, will head the project. We can almost start the compost facility with several substan- tial gifts and with material supplied by GTL Europe and Fancom, we can build an aerated floor. A container that has been converted into a tunnel is also ready for shipment.
Help make a difference! “There is still room in the container, and we would like to fill it with all kinds of small material that the future growers in Uganda can put to good use, but financial help is also very welcome. We want to give students the opportu- nity to attend training and buy enough material to start growing. We estimate that around €200 per person should cover the costs.
Please transfer your donations to the bank account of W. Joosten, IBAN number: NL56 INGB0688324010, stating project MTRC Uganda. We thank you and all those who have allready contributed.
Ayijuka Amstrong, who acquired training in mushroom cultivation at MTRC in 2019.
*PUM Nederland senior experts is an organisation that sends volunteers with extensive knowledge of specific sectors to developing countries and markets.
MUSHROOM BUSINESS 13
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