TITLE:
Cultivated Mushrooms in Malawi: A Look at the Present Situation
AUTHORS:
Alfred Chioza, Shoji Ohga
KEYWORDS:
Agaricus bisporus; Cultivated Mushrooms; Malawi; Pleurotus ostreatus
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
13,
2014
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the status of
mushroom cultivation in Malawi. This is a developing country located in southeastern
Africa between latitudes 9°25' South and 17°08' South and longitudes 33° East and 36°East. Almost all the mushroom cultivators in the country are growing Pleurotus ostreatus. This species is
most preferred because of its easiness to cultivate using the low-cost
cultivation method being practiced in the country. On average, the annual P. ostreatus production is estimated at
240 kg per grower. Mushroom cultivators are selling their produce at prices
ranging from MK800 (USD2.04) to MK2000 (USD5.10) per kg. At present, there are
four institutions that are producing spawn namely Bunda College (Lilongwe
University of Agriculture and Natural resources), Bvumbwe Agricultural Research
Station, Natural Resources College and the Biology Department at Chancellor
College, University of Malawi. Currently, a total of about 1307 bottles (330 ml
each) of P. ostreatus spawn are sold
by these four spawn producers per month. Mushroom cultivation is not that
popular in Malawi. This may be, partly, attributed to lack of know-how and
awareness on the economic, nutritive and medicinal benefits of cultivated
mushrooms. Some of the major supermarkets do sell Agaricus bisporus mushrooms which are imported from the Republic of
South Africa. They also sell Pleurotus
ostreatus sourced from local cultivators.