adminSydney Kawadza and Stanely Mushava Features Writers
In Harare, innovative people have decided to make the most out of the little pieces of land behind their homes. John-Mark Kajese (26) of Craneborne and Steven Sibare (58) of Alexandra Park have proved that one only needs the smallest of spaces to produce for an ever-increasing market especially in the area of mushroom farming.
Kajese, a holder of a Post-Graduate Diploma in Enterprise Management and Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in Development Studies from Rhodes University in South Africa says mushroom production is his calling.
“The problem with Zimbabweans is we always try to get employment when we can develop other talents and make the most out of them.
“I could have been job hunting but I am satisfied with my venture while the market has responded so well to my project and I am even failing to satisfy it,” he said.
“I identified my passion and turned it into a venture which I believe will grow into an industry if well researched and invested in,” said Kajese.
“I grew up in a family that has always been into farming and I witnessed the benefits of working on the land at an early stage of my life,” he said.
He studied agriculture at secondary school.
“The most important part of it all is the passion. Because if I had rushed into mushroom production for money I would have been disappointed.”
Kajese is growing oyster mushrooms that he supplies to local supermarkets.
“I believe I could create an industry that is sustainable to the extent of creating employment for my colleagues in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“My goal is to go into massive production so I am doing research on the white button variety so that I can incorporate this into the new and bigger venture.”
Kajese believes youths can do more for the country’s economy.
Kejese attended mushroom farming lessons in 2006 but had to shelve his plans to pursue his studies in South Africa.
But his determination remained steadfast. During his time at Rhodes University Kajese was researching and working on ideas concerning mushroom production.
For Mr Steven Sibare, a regular face at the Harare Agricultural Show, leaving a rewarding profession in international relations to grow mushrooms in his backyard was most satisfying.
Fifteen years on, he has not only established a lucrative niche for himself in the agricultural sector but also mentored many other mushroom growers.
Sibare said mushroom is a poverty-buster which is not getting serious attention.
“Anyone can grow mushrooms in Zimbabwe. There is big money and less inputs involved than in any other crop. For example, 100 square metres of compost will give the grower $10 000 or more for every three months cycle,” he said.
“There is no need for heavy farm implements like tractors and combine harvesters to grow mushrooms. One does not need huge tracts of land because a few cheap building structures will do,” he said.
“As the business grows, the farmer can enhance the production capacity by including air conditioners which can double the profits,” Sibare said.
Sibare heads a family business called Mushroom Technology Centre in Harare’s Alexandra Park. The centre grows mushrooms, trains would-be farmers. It also supplies mushroom inputs, provides consultancy services, helps new farmers with setting up.
Sibare used to host people on leadership seminars. Those attending would always request him to teach them about mushroom production.
“Eventually, my friend suggested a name and said ‘If you don’t put up the poster Mushroom Training Centre, I will put it up myself,’” he said.
“Mushrooms use free bush grass and any crop residue that is usually burnt after harvesting or shelling. Unlike most crops which are seasonal, mushrooms can be grown non-stop, all year round,” Sibare said.
“We are talking of bush straw which grows at random. That is what one needs to get big bucks coming in.
“When I go to train in rural areas I always ask ‘Who has a drum, a wheel, an axe and a shovel?’ because I want to simplify things and show how financial success is within anyone’s reach,” he said.
He said wheat straw or cotton hulls which can be obtained at a very low cost are great alternative compost and substrate for button mushrooms.
He added that the business is an untapped gold mine, given that Zimbabwean and South African mushroom suppliers combined cannot meet half the demand of mushrooms in Zimbabwe.
“There is a big shortage of mushrooms on both local and export market. Zimbabwe is currently importing lots of mushrooms from SA and from Botswana, yet we have the capacity and utilising it can be a lucrative incoming-generating venture for our people,” he said.
Sibare grows two varieties of mushroom, namely button and oyster. The varieties can be grown in any house except the green house.
He says there are more than 3 000 varieties of mushroom in the world but only a third is edible.
“Mushroom picked from anywhere is risky for consumers and less profitable for the sellers,” he said.
“Whereas a basket (10kg) of nhedzi (a local variety which grows in the bush) fetches something like $5, an equal measure of oyster fetches $50 and button fetches $100.
“Considering also occasional reports about families dying after eating poisonous mushrooms. There is no way to guarantee that mushroom picked from the bush is safe for consumption.’’
Sibare said that mushrooms, handled the right way, are not deadly but rather medicinal.
“Mushrooms are better than meat and most vegetables because they have medicinal content in them,” he said.
He hailed mushrooms as one of the best ways to guarantee food and health security.
Sibare said he had passed the stage of feeling pity for the poor because anyone, rural or urban, can utilise their backyards to make thousands and drive a new car out of a mushroom house every three months.
Sibare has written several booklets to assist people with the know-how.
He does not feel threatened as to shy away from sharing what he knows about mushroom production because he knows it is an underutilised poverty buster which can raise people from dust to the wealthy place of their fantasies.
“Industry players need to transition the nation from eloquent but empty talk shows. If we make use of what we have, we can realise a lot of economic progress.
“If anyone can make so much from growing one crop in their backyards, imagine how much all those vast farms are worth,” he said.
He added that the need will not arise for him to write a last will and testament because his children who all grow mushrooms are adequately empowered.
Online Reporter