White oyster mushroom is an edible fungus that has gained a large following due to its nutritional benefits coupled with the ease of cultivating it.
Mushrooms belong to the fungi family and they are not plants because they do not have green leaves.
Kenyan farmers have been quick to cultivate white oyster mushroom which thrives in moderate tropical climates like that found in East Africa.
The mushrooms are planted on straw or other dry media like decomposing wood. Mushrooms are saprophytic in nature so they help in the decomposition of dead matter in an environmentally friendly way.
Through their saprophytic growth, mushrooms help to break down complex elements and release them into the atmosphere in a usable form for living things.
According to Wangari Kuria, a farmer who has ventured into mushroom farming, one kilogram of mushroom fetches between Ksh600 and Ksh800. One bag of colonised mushrooms can produce up to two kilograms.
What appeals most about mushroom farming is that it does not require a huge space like traditional crops. For starters, mushrooms are grown out of polythene bags stuffed with hay placed in dark cold rooms mostly made with mud or polythene bags. The size can be customized to fit a farmer's capacity.
So, hay is placed inside a transparent polythene bag where it is allowed to colonize. Typically, the hay in the transparent polythene bag starts turning white meaning mushrooms are about to sprout.
A farmer will harvest mushrooms from the bags for three months before renewing them. Meanwhile, all that a farmer will be required to do is to monitor the room temperature. In case the room gets hot, a farmer may be necessitated to spray cold water.
Mushrooms are beloved for their sweet taste and nutritional benefits. White oyster mushrooms are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals as well as low in carbohydrates making it ideal for people who are keen on reducing their weight.
The mushrooms also help promote the production of milk for lactating mothers. Therefore, mothers with young babies can help improve their production by eating white oyster mushrooms regularly.
Research has shown that white oyster mushrooms help equip our the body with anti-oxidants which help minimize cellular damage.
Additionally, white oyster mushrooms promote heart health by lowering heart rate factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also helps in the regulation of blood sugar levels.