To begin farming, you should be aware of the cost of starting a mushroom farm in Kenya. Worry not, I got you covered including all the hidden cost pro farmers are less likely to share with beginners is here just to enhance your success journey.

Not many Kenyans are aware of how profitable mushroom gardening can be. It’s a significant investment that just a few of Kenya’s well-informed farmers are making.

The demand for the tasty and nutritious fungus is skyrocketing, which means that present supply isn’t even close to meeting demand. This is the most important element influencing mushroom pricing in Kenya.

Mushrooms are well-known for their high nutritional value and protein content. They’re also high in vitamins (B1, B2, B12, and C), vital amino acids, and carbs, but they’re low in fat, fiber, and starch.

They have a high water content of about 90% when they are fresh.

Phosphorus, potassium, iron, and copper are among the minerals found. For a few weeks, mushrooms develop in spurts known as flushes every 7 to 10 days, with yields decreasing with time.

The first three flushes account for more than 70% of the total. The amount of time it takes for a mushroom to grow depends on the type of mushroom and the growth circumstances.

Cost Of Starting A Mushroom Farm In Kenya

Mushroom Farm House Cost

You’ll need to invest in a few items to get started mushroom farming in Kenya. The first option is a farmhouse, which isn’t necessarily expensive. The shelves and a robust ventilation system will cost you only Ksh. 15,000 to install. 

Construction of the farmhouse, equipment purchases, and painting costs total Ksh. 230,000 on a 1/8-acre farm. The prices are lower if you don’t have to create a full mud home and can use an available free room.

You Can Farm Mushrooms Without Having Land Cost

Also, not that you don’t actually need a land to do mushroom farming in Kenya.. It’s a benefit if you have property since you can build a mud home and utilize it to cultivate the mushrooms.

You may, however, do this in your own home or apartment balcony as long as you have a dark, well-ventilated room. Increase the vertical space in the room by adding wooden shelves. If you simply want to eat the mushrooms at home, you may grow them in a cardboard box.

Cost Of Mushroom Spawn

Second, you’ll need to purchase mushroom spawns to raise. You’ll need about 40 kg of mushroom spawns. A firm named Sylvan imports the majority of the spawns cultivated in Kenya, and each kilogram costs Ksh. 4,000.

Ksh, 600 per kilogram is the selling rate for locally accessible spawns.

Profitability Of Mushroom Farming In Kenya

Mushroom farming profits in Kenya when a farmer may sell one kilogram to a consumer for Ksh. 600, can generate Ksh. 1.2 million in income. Button mushrooms only need two months to develop.

A one-eighth-acre farm can maintain 1000 bags, yielding up to two tons. Ready market for your produce gives you millions of profit.

Mushroom Farm Produce Selling Cost

Mushrooms may be purchased in Kenya at large grocery outlets for between Ksh. 400 and Ksh. 600 per kg. Individual vendors provide a better deal at Ksh. 500 per kg.

Mushroom cultivation is profitable because the compost may be sold once it has been used. For Ksh. 2000, a 50 kilogram bag may be purchased. Nairobi has the largest mushroom demand in Kenya.

Supermarkets can offer high prices to consumers. For instance, during scarcity, Zucchini Supermarket sold a kilo of mushroom for about Ksh. 1,000 and the demand was still higher than the supply.

Tips Before Starting Mushroom Farm In Kenya

1. Do A Prototype Farming

Before going to a larger farm, try mushroom farming trial on a small farm to observe how it goes. You’ll have a higher chance of learning from your mistakes this way.

2. Mushroom Farm Hygiene

Remember to keep your farm tidy to the highest possible quality. A bacterial infection can negatively affect your mushroom harvest.

The substrate must be sterilized under the correct circumstances, otherwise the seeds may wither. Heat-sterilize the substrate before performing the inoculation procedure in a sterile clean environment.

3. Engage Other Mushroom Farmers

Seek guidance from other mushroom growers in the region and study their methods. If you intend to do mushroom farming in Kenya successfully, it is recommended to visit some successful mushroom growers in Kenya.

Learn from their expertise in order to acquire the information and professional guidance on how to produce oyster and button mushrooms.

Besides, you need expert knowledge to be able to handle various processes involved in mushroom farming. It is also a bad idea to handle the whole processes alone.

The processes involved in mushroom production in Kenya include:

• Sourcing supplies
• Mixing & inoculating substrate
• Moving grow bags around
• Harvesting mushrooms
• Delivering to markets
• Cleaning
• Composting used substrate

4. Identify Mushroom Market

To minimize disappointments, find a market ahead of time because mushrooms have a short shelf life once picked. In Nairobi and other major cities, there are a lot of individual mushroom purchasers.

The majority of them purchase at wholesale prices and resale to hotels or supermarkets. As a result, we recommend doing a market survey before beginning mushroom manufacturing.

Visit your local vegetable market and ask a few wholesalers if they’d be interested in purchasing the mushrooms once they’ve been harvested. Inquire about the price range at which they are willing to sell.

Mushroom farmers should seek for firms that make dietary supplements from plant extracts if they are doing large-scale farming. Mushrooms, as previously said, are excellent immune enhancers. Send them an email with your contact information through their separate websites.

Whatsapp groups provide a secure venue for promoting your goods. Make a Whatsapp group with your neighbors and keep them updated on when the produce is ready to be sold. To encourage people to prepare mushrooms, share delectable mushroom recipes.