A recent initiative in mushroom farming is gaining traction in Nadawa, as highlighted by Nanise Litea, the leader of the Nadawa Methodist Women’s Fellowship. This organization has come together following the departure of senior members and has been revitalized.
Nanise reports that 64 women are part of this fellowship, though only a few are actively involved in mushroom cultivation. For the past 30 years, she has lived in Nadawa and has led the fellowship for the last two years. The mushroom project emerged from a hands-on training session held at their church three months ago, where one of the fellowship members shared their experiences. This initiative has also caught the attention of Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya.
Next week, Minister Tabuya will visit to offer support to the women’s organization and will also return from China to oversee the Juncao Technology Demonstration in mushroom cultivation. She provided two composting machines, recognizing the progress made by the fellowship.
Nanise noted that they have successfully cultivated mushrooms over seven days, emphasizing this as a valuable initiative for practice. While it is relatively new, she stressed that it is easy to grow and sells quickly. To date, they have sold mushrooms twice and anticipate a third sale next week.
The current price is set at $5 for 500 grams of mushrooms. Although they face significant competition in the market, they have established a strong presence. Nanise highlighted the importance of collaboration between the fellowship members and the Ministry of Women to promote their mushroom sales.
The fellowship is optimistic about the financial benefits they are realizing and is determined to expand their market reach. Nanise also encouraged women in the community to join the fellowship and enhance their skills in mushroom cultivation, which could lead to additional income generation for their families.