[Do not publich] Producing Mushrooom Spores
Promoting mushroom farming among vulnerable populations
The initiative aims to make the production of mushroom spores accessible to rural populations in Rwanda, particularly vulnerable people living in zones with a high risk of soil erosion. Mushrooms, as a short-cycle, high-yield crop, offer an alternative to traditional crops that is both more profitable and has a higher nutritional value. The initiative is pioneering the local production of mushroom spores in a laboratory run by the Association of Vulnerable Widows Affected and Infected by HIV and AIDS (AVVAIS). The laboratory produces primary, secondary and tertiary mushroom seeds, and also trains the cooperatives involved in the project on how to grow mushrooms, encouraging new, eco-friendly and income-generating activities. The beneficiaries include rural women’s cooperatives and fishing villages that are particularly exposed to climate change. Besides promoting subsistence agriculture, the initiative offers beneficiary communities access to markets, selling their products to the catering industry and grocery stores as well as exporting them.
Eco-Inclusive Impacts
The initiative makes the production of mushroom spores accessible to rural populations in Rwanda, particularly vulnerable people living in zones with a high risk of soil erosion.
- Helping to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations by creating a new income-generating activity.
- Generating revenues of around USD 11,000 for 20 cooperatives.
- Adapting to climate change through its activities.
- Helping safeguard the environment and raising awareness amongst the local population in response to environmental challenges.
- Creating positive impact by diversifying income-generating activities and increasing monetary flows.
- Enabling increased agricultural yields whilst offering new opportunities on the agricultural market.
Partners
“Project for producing edible mushroom spores” is pioneering the local production of primary mushroom spores through a laboratory run by a cooperative of HIV-infected women and widows. Supported by international organisations and local government authorities, the initiative will make mushroom production accessible to vulnerable members of rural communities as a profitable and high-yield crop requiring little land.
AVVAIS the Association of Vulnerable Widows Affected and Infected by HIV and AIDS is the majority partner and lead manager of the initiative.
The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme of the United Nations Development Programme provides technical and financial support.
The District of Kicukiro is the local authority and assists the initiative in legal procedures.