Mushrooms, Ghana’s Hidden Economic Potential

Daily Guide 27/10/10

By Emmanuel Kubi

INFORMATION ABOUT Ghana’s agricultural sector is currently looking rosy following the sector’s 40% contribution to the national economy and the 6.5 growth recorded last year.
But some farmers are wondering whether the mushroom industry is being tapped in order to realize the full economic potentials of the sector.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on Monday, Theophilus Kingsley Quartey, President of the Mushroom Growers and Exporters Association and owner of Potentate and Mushroom Complex noted the mushroom industry has been viable since the 1990s when the current Minister for Agriculture, Kwasi Ahwoi introduced the technology as Chairman of the Ghana Export Promotion Center but “has he ever bothered to know the progress of the industry,” he asked saying much attention was not paid by stakeholders to make the initiative work.
According to him mushroom is easily grown using farm waste like rice straw, cotton seed waste, saw dust, rejected textiles and organic waste.
It was estimated in 1994 that Ghana generates 6574mt of waste and that if 25% of this is used for farming mushrooms, it could generate about 822,000mt of the product for export. The mushroom takes 48 hours to be ready for harvest after these materials are used for the compost bag. It grows under low temperatures, high humidity and frequent water sprinkling which Quartey says makes cost of production very low. Ghana is producing oyster, button, champignon, straw and the wood ear species of mushrooms that are considered more nutritional.
Economic benefits
Mr. Quartey noted that the mushroom industry has huge economic potentials that when tapped can change the livelihood of many Ghanaians.
According to him, current production could not meet even the local demand whiles the export market for the commodity remained unattended to.
He said there is higher demand for mushrooms across Europe, the Americas and even Brazil and Serbia adding that records estimated that if “9% of the Ghanaian population could produce 50g a day, it would increase production to 36,000mt and that alone would give the nation $104,300,000 annually.”
Currently Serbia demands an order of 20t of mushroom products a week to feed its market whiles Brazil also need over 23,000mt annually stemming from feasibility studies done in 1993 under the National Mushroom Development Project supported by the UNDP and Ghana’s CSIR.
He was of the view that if the industry could be funded, training more people to go into it could maintain the consistency of production at higher tonnages to meet both local and world export market demands. This, when adhered to he said, could enhance the nation’s economic fortunes and create jobs for people.
Health benefits
Mushroom experts say it has several heath benefits including cutting down high cholesterol levels, preventing breast and prostrate cancer and diabetes. It also helps in weight loss, increasing immunity as well.
It as well protects against diseases and infections, as it contains proteins, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, antibiotics and anti oxidants.
Mushrooms themselves provide consumers with lean proteins as they have zero cholesterol, fats and very low carbohydrates. It has fibre and certain enzymes which help in lowering cholesterol. Moreover, the high lean protein content in mushrooms helps burn cholesterol when digested.
Researches have shown that they are very effective in preventing cancer of the breast and prostrate due to the presence of Beta-Glucans and conjugated Linoleic Acid which have anti carcinogenic effects.
Of the two, Linoleic acid is particularly helpful in suppressing the effects of estrogen. Estrogen is reported to be the prime reason for post menopausal breast cancer in women whiles the beta-glucans inhibit growth of cancerous cells in cases of prostrate cancer. The selenium in mushrooms is very effective in inhibiting cancerous cells.
Mushrooms can be an ideal low sugar diet for diabetics. They have no fats, no cholesterol, very low carbohydrates, high proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Moreover, they contain a lot of water, natural insulin and enzymes which helps in breaking down sugar and starch in food.
Mushroom consumption helps proper functioning of the liver, pancreas and other endocrinal glands thereby promoting the formation of insulin and its proper flow. It also boosts the flow of breast milk in lactating mothers.
The report suggested that the presence of ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant in mushrooms is very effective in giving protection as well as boosting immunity. Mushrooms contain natural antibiotics similar to penicillin which is extracted from mushrooms that inhibit microbial and other fungal infections. They also help heal ulcers and ulcerous wounds as well as protect them from infections. A good combination of vitamins A, B-Complex and C, found in mushrooms also strengthens the immune system.
Mushrooms provide the body with total lean protein that is ideal for losing fat and building muscle mass. It is capable of burning fats to digest proteins in the food, more so when the protein is accompanied by very low carbohydrates, zero fats and cholesterol and a good amount of fibre. These are classical characteristics of a mushroom for the human well being.
Quartey also believes that mushrooms are the only vegetable and second known source after cod liver oil to contain vitamin-D, rich in calcium which is good for bones, iron benefits in cases of anaemia, potassium which is good for lowering blood pressure as well as copper anti bacterial properties and selenium which is very good for the health of bones, teeth, nails and hair. He said it is widely known that the best source of selenium is animal protein but mushrooms can be the best choice for vegetarians to obtain selenium.

Poverty alleviation
Quartey who is also the manager of the Potentate and Mushroom Complex, noted that looking at the huge market availability for the mushroom product as mentioned above showed how commercially viable it would be to encourage the youth and especially the poor rural folks who could not make any returns with subsistent farming to change their fortunes.
Mushroom production he said can serve as additional sources of income for those who are already in gainful employment to better their lot and improve their nutritional source.
According to him, he is now training people in the region to get involved in mushroom production so he can buy from them and process the products for the bigger markets. “I am trying to use the trainees for the out grower scheme that we are developing which we can use to feed at least the local market,” he said.
He also suggested that the National Youth Employment Programme should adopt mushroom farming as a module that can be used to empower the youth in enhancing their economic wellbeing.
He therefore challenged stakeholders and main players in Ghana’s agriculture industry to come clean on the future of the nation’s agriculture strategy “so that we are not seen only paying lip service to the important economic potentials of our growing agric sector.”
Increasing agric financing could help individuals who have an interest in mushroom production to produce enough for the export market adding that even processing and packaging of the product is an aspect that can generate massive employment to help reduce poverty in the country.
Mushrooms can be processed into mushroom flakes, rough and smooth powdered forms, solar dried and freshly bottled under good preservative systems for the supermarkets.
“I fervently hope that Ghana would not repeat the same mistake we made with our oil palm where the Malaysian took over from us. I pray that the many people from the neighbouring countries like Burkina, Togo, Nigeria, Benin and Ivory Coast who are coming for training from Ghana do not rise up to take over the market.
Mushroom is also a non-traditional commodity that could have access to most international markets around the world when marketed well by the Ghana Export Promotion Center.