DTI promotes mushroom production as livelihood

By Gigi Dumallig

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - Seen as a potential industry and alternative livelihood activity, the Department of Trade and Industry here is advocating the production of oyster mushrooms in the province.

Warner Padawag of DTI, Kalinga said partner agencies, local government units and local producers have been conducting group trainings in the province.

Mushroom production is suitable as an industry or as an alternative income generating project considering its market demands and propagation prospects, Padawag said.

He added with its nutritional, medicinal, as well as culinary appeal, market demand for oyster mushroom is vast worldwide.

In the province, consumers are now becoming aware of its benefits and are now patronizing said product.

Propagation of mushroom he said is also viable in the province considering the availability of raw materials for propagation. Since production does not need much land or space, interested individuals and farmers could easily engage in small-scale mushroom production as an additional enterprise.

According to Padawag, oyster mushrooms is a good choice for beginners because they are easier to grow with a moderate initial investment. Trainings could be provided by the government to provide them with the knowledge to plan and set up their production system to ensure a profitable business.

New growers, Padawag said, could now avail of spawn protein bags from the province. He said that the Kibayen Mushroom Farm, a local grower is now producing spawn and protein bags and had been also assisting the DTI in the technology transfer to aspiring producers.

Currently, he said that there is a widening technology transfer of mushroom production shown with the increase of growers in the province. Aside from the producers in Tabuk and Rizal, Kalinga, the Balbalan LGU with its climate advantage is now supporting local producers for the local market.

With this support from the LGUs, there is a big possibility that mushroom production in the province will engage in bigger market such as mushroom processing and importation which will eventually offer bigger profit for local farmers, Padawag said.

Based on research, mushrooms contain many essential amino acids and protein. They say that mushrooms also contain some unsaturated fatty acids, provide several of the B vitamins, and vitamin D with some even containing significant vitamin C, as well as the minerals potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.