The first harvest began in April and concluded in May. Although the yields were limited, they were of very high quality. Throughout this initial growing cycle, we gained valuable experience, which gives us confidence as we plan to expand production. Additionally, we established contacts for selling fresh oyster mushrooms in local markets and built relationships with key buyers.
For the cultivation of oyster mushrooms we have set up a dark room and grow room.
Impression of making gardens
After the substrate was heated, I let it cool overnight. Then spawning took place and 35 gardens were prepared in black plastic bags
To gain more practical knowledge of mushroom farming, I decided to attend a training in mushroom farming through an organization known as Mushroom Training and Resource Centre (MTRC) in Kabale, Uganda which took place in February 2025.
€ 700 Grant Awarded: I successfully secured a grant from the Skills and Business for Africa foundation to cover training and purchase essential equipment. The purchased equipment included metallic drums, big saucepan, substrate, firewood, weighing scale, knapsack pump sprayer, spawn.
Production
In the first year, experience is gained with growing oyster mushrooms and it is important to focus on managing the quality and ensuring that the oyster mushrooms grow healthily. It is important to go for quality instead of quantity. Furthermore, it appears that little income can be paid to me as an entrepreneur. For me it means that additional income must be raised during the start-up phase.
After experience is gained, the number of kilos to be produced is doubled in the second year.
Investments
The startup investment can be realized with the grant of Skills and Business for Africa (UGX 2,800,000 = €700). After gaining experience, a loan of €500 can be requested from Skills and Business for Africa at a later stage for expansion investments. UGX 1,900,000 (€755) can also be mobilized from own resources.
For the start of a mushroom farm it is important that with a relatively small investment good cultivation space for oyster mushrooms can be set up. The shelter on my family’s property will be used for the cultivation space. After the chickens are sold the shelter will be equipped with a dark room and a grow room.
In the future, in addition to the space for the chicken farm, a shelter for the growing room can be realized next to the current building.
Below are the photos of the surfaces that are available for the shelters.