“Pagretire ko next year, ining mushroom an saro sa sakong magiging hanapbuhay,” said Police Executive Master Sergeant (PEMS) Emerson Gonzales who is one of the 20 participants from the military and private personnel to the Mushroom Production Seminar held at 1st Albay Provincial Mobile Force Company in barangay Paulog , Ligao City.
Gonzales recalled that this is his first attendance to a training conducted by the Department of Agriculture Bicol but the new learnings will surely help him in the future when he becomes an ordinary citizen of the Philippines.
PEM and Company Executive Senior Police Officer Alden P. Rosco, considered this training as “isang napakagandang oportunidad na magkaroon ng panibagong kaalaman sa agrikultura na napapanahon dahil bukod sa dagdag-kabuhayan natin, maaaring maturuan natin ang ating mga kapwa lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar.”
Force Commander PLTCol Rodel L. Pescuela said that “mas maganda magturo kung alam mo mismo kung ano ang iyong ginagawa” as he planned to share his new skill to residents of barangays where they do their immersion scheduled in the coming month through their community action team.
DA Bicol Science Research Specialist and Regional Mushroom Focal Person Pedro Oliver said that mushroom production is one of the initiatives of the government to attain food security, reduce environmental pollution, improve the health of the people, and generate more jobs and income.
With the growing commercial consumption in the markets and its nutritional benefits as a meat substitute, there will be a high market demand in the coming years. In fact, the region has a high demand for this commodity but lacks supply.
Mushrooms are basically low-sodium foods, fat- and cholesterol-free; rich in vitamin, potassium and selenium and contain antioxidants. Selenium and antioxidants aid in combating cancer by detoxifying cancer-triggering compounds in the body and also helps in liver enzyme function. It also prevents inflammation and reduces tumor growth in the body. It also contributes to cardiovascular health, as it contains fiber, vitamin C and potassium. Mushrooms reduces the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, since mushrooms are low in sodium and high in potassium.
Pescuela pushes the mushroom culture project as an alternative or additional source of livelihood for the barangay folks especially in the third district of Albay. He is planning to hold another seminar to be participated in by the locals.
During the hands-on training, the participants used shredded palay or rice stalks and saw dust (kusot) mixed with water and placed at fruiting bags.
With proper daily misting, Oliver said mushrooms will naturally grow and can be harvested within a period of at least three months.
“Madali man sana an mushroom production. Dai kaipuhan nin mahiwas na lugar. Pwede ini sa lugar na medyo malipot. Pwede ini atamanon pakatapos gibuhun an mga trabaho sa laog asin luwas kan harong kaya, bagay man ini sa mga ina,” he explained.
Currently , harvested mushrooms are sold at Php250.00 per kilo.
Oliver added that the Bicol Entrepreneur Association of Mushroom (BEAM) is strengthening its organization to put up a production support system that would increase local production to cope up with the demand for mushroom, especially when people have more time to engage in their personal mushroom production due to movement restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, BEAM will be assisted by the government to capacitate local mushroom farmers into the mushroom culture technology and hope to get them into production.
Aside from the discussion on mushroom production, retired DA Bicol Food Laboratory employee Eden Casihan taught the participants in making different mushroom products like Mushroom Ice Cream, Mushroom Pickles and Mushroom Chicharon.
Certified Public Accountant and former Camarines Sur Capitol Internal Audit staff Nikki Redondo learned to make Mushroom medley.
“Kadakul pa palan an pwedeng produkto hale sa mushroom. Exciting,” she said. Redondo plans to engage in mushroom production and processing while waiting for a new opportunity.
Oliver disclosed that although mushroom production has been in the Philippines since the 19th century, the Philippines’ contribution to the local mushroom demand is only at 10% to date. The biggest global producers of mushrooms are China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and Japan.
Oliver presented the various types of edible mushrooms that any individuals can grow whether in a limited or large growing space which include Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Enoki (Flammulina velutipes), Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), Paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella Volvacea), Jelly ear (Auricularia auricula-judae), and Reishi or lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum).
In order to test if a mushroom is poisonous, one has to shred the mushroom and soak it in water. When an “ooze” or smoke pops in the water, it is poisonous.
Oliver warned though that mushroom is not encouraged for pregnant women as it may cause abortion due to high protein content.
Oliver also presented the five factors that affect mushroom growth like temperature, humidity, light, food and maintenance.
Mushrooms may offer opportunities for a lucrative sustainable income and livelihood, but it can also give individuals a healthy option for their personal consumption.
Each fruiting bag produces an average of 250 grams of mushroom within a period of four months to include the planting and growing.
Aside from the mushroom, one can sell mushroom fruiting bags which can be sold at P30.00 each.
“All wasted mushroom fruiting bags after the four-six-month of production period can be an organic fertilizer and can be utilized for vermicomposting. “See, there is no waste in mushroom production,” Oliver concluded. # # # (Jayson M. Gonzales / DA-RFO V, RAFIS)
