Blantyre — Shortage of button mushroom spawn is said to be one of the factors that is challenging the production of the crop in Malawi.
National Executive Director for the National Association for Small and Medium Enterprise (Nasme) William Tita Mwale told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the country is currently importing the seed from other countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe.
"Button mushroom spawn production is quiet delicate as it is supposed to be produced in laboratories with specialised expertise," said Mwale adding that the country is currently looking into prospects of having it produced locally so that more people join the production in addition to reducing the cost of investment.
The Executive Director said despite fetching a high price of up to K4,000 per kilogram on the domestic market, the country is still failing to meet the demand that keeps souring by passage of time.
"It is big money business!" he said revealing that: "The country needs more serious entrepreneurs to join button mushroom production which is very lucrative."
He said despite the increasing demand, the country currently has three producers only in spite of having close to 40 others on pending who have expressed interest to join the farming.
Other stakeholders, Tita Mwale said, have already offered to help with technical expertise on button mushroom production, including the Lilongwe University of Science and Technology, Chancellor College's biology department and the University of Zimbabwe which has offered to supply the spawn.
He said some of the country's prominent financial institutions have already expressed interest to bankroll those wishing to join the mushroom production.
Meanwhile, Ipani Investment of Chilomoni has said it is ready to invest in button mushroom production with a loan the institution intends to source from a local micro financing institution. The institution's proprietor, Louis Carvallo said they conducted research on the crop that showed that with a good investment and the application of best practice the mushroom can fetch good income both locally and internationally.
"Even some foreigners in the country are interested to venture in button mushroom production so as natives why should we lag behind," wondered Carvallo, adding that most of the country's market places and chain stores have shown an interest to provide the market as local production would also reduce transport costs they incur when importing the mushroom from abroad.
On the market for the mushroom, Carvallo said Mozambique's cities of Tete and Maputo are among other international selling points that are ready to buy the mushroom produce.
