Considerations and Basics
for the Entrepreneur
T
here are a number of different assumptions which concerns the origin and cultivation of mushrooms although it is suggested that it all started in the 17th century with a French
horticulturalist in Paris. Other
sources suggest that it was in Canada, however, many species of mushrooms which originate from many
different countries world-wide are
available today.
or shelves)
The size of the facility
Labour and related costs
Packaging, distribution, hygiene
and food safety prerequisites
Record keeping and data sheets
Analysis of raw materials etc. to
name but a few
Mushrooms in South Africa
Locally, the white button and brown
mushrooms, both belonging to the
genus Agaricus, are mainly grown.
It is mainly a fresh market product
Considerations
Growing mushrooms is not as simple with only a small percentage of local
as many people may believe and can produce being processed into
be regarded as one of the most tech- canned products, sauces and other
value added products. Exotic mushnically advanced and sophisticated
agricultural industries in the world, is rooms takes up less than 5% of the
highly mechanized, requires detailed market including Oyster mushrooms
(Pleurotus spp), and Shiitake
knowledge, high levels of management skill and commitment for suc- (Lentinula spp). Though these seem
cess right from the start to the crop- easier to grow, one should not be
deceived in thinking that it is an easiping and marketing stage.
er option - they still require equally
It is therefore important to do your
sophisticated technology towards
homework before investing in land,
manufacture of the ideal substrate as
property or a production facility. Be
well as climate controlled growing
it on a small scale, as a hobby or on
facilities.
a commercial scale, be prepared for
an extensive capital investment. It is GROWING AGARICUS
very difficult to estimate the total
MUSHROOMS
cost of setting up a mushroomCompost
growing facility as many factors
Being members of the fungi kingneed to be considered e.g.
dom and heterotrophic organisms
Cost and availability of raw materials, the market size and proximity
The composting process
The growing system (bags, trays
is provided by a highly complex substrate or compost. The compost used
for propagating mushrooms is the
end result of a complex, controlled
biological process which involves
micro-organisms, and when well prepared, forms a high yielding compost. Unlike in Europe where prepared compost can be purchased, in
South Africa the mushroom industry
mostly produce their own compost.
Synthetic Compost ingredients:
Water – essential for the composting process and growth of
the mushroom; 70-90% of all the
mushroom’s requirements is extracted from the compost
Straw (mostly wheat) which provides carbohydrates and the substrate structure for allowing aerobic conditions
Chicken litter (broilers) that provides the nitrogen source and
microbes needed for the composting process.
Gypsum – buffers the pH, improves the structure and aids the
release of ammonia.
The chemical analysis of the ingredients and in particular the nitrogen
content of the chicken litter will determine the exact quantities needed
of each. The process of changing
the ingredients into a suitable mushroom production substrate takes
place in distinct phases.
which lacks chlorophyll, mushrooms
subsequently produce their own
food from organic material. In the
commercial production of Agaricus
Pre-wet
bisporus this food and energy source Biological activity does not take