The success of Benyglad Mushroom Farm
Benyglad Mushroom Farm is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing mushroom farms in Madina Estates in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, a success made possible due to the Sustainable Livelihoods and Transparent Local Authorities (SLATLA) Project.
Funded by the European Union, the SLATLA project is aimed at increasing growth of Ghana's informal economy by providing training in agribusiness (poultry, grass cutter, vegetable and mushroom farming as well as poultry feed processing) and artisanal skills (plumbing, tiling, embroidery and plastic waste recycling) to people between the ages of 18 - 35 years to increase youth employment, entrepreneurship and development of at the local level.
Beneficiaries trained in livelihood skills are provided start-up packages to enable them commence business. There is one requirement needed before beneficiaries, who have already been taken through months of training on mushroom farming, can receive the start-ups; they have to form livelihood enhancement groups, consisting of at least 20 members in a group.
Beneficiaries who live in close proximity to each other are therefore grouped together; that is how Benyglad Mushroom Farm came into existence.
Housed in the compound of a couple who are members of the group, the farm is already budding as a result of the hard work of members.
According to Gifty Odoom-Sam, the leader of the farming group, the group decided to start something on their own,
After the training in mushroom production, the trainer took us around to visit a mushroom farm. Whilst awaiting the distribution of start-up packages, we decided to start something on our own. We bought some compost bags from the trainer, brought in a carpenter to construct a wooden structure behind the house in order to provide shade for the spawns. We then went ahead to make a small banner so that people passing by will know that there are mushrooms for sale here.
The farm is already making profit says Gifty,
When we harvest the mushrooms, we package them and sell them fresh, frozen or dried. We sell a pack for GHC 5.00 [about USD 87 cents] and people really patronize it. Some people see the banner displayed outside and call to order. They are always amazed when we inform them that we actually grow the mushrooms here. From the little we have started, we have realized this is a good initiative ActionAid and the European Union have brought to help us earn a living.
Currently, the group has a production capacity of 2kg per day. We plan on increasing our production capacity soon and starting new branches in other locations to meet the increasing demands. We rely on referrals by our customers and also do door-to-door advertisements in grocery shops and restaurants. The mushroom business has been very lucrative even more than what we anticipated.
Editor's Note:
The Sustainable Livelihoods and Transparent Local Authorities (SLATLA) project is currently being implemented in collaboration with two District Assemblies; the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA) and the Sunyani West District Assembly and has been providing agribusiness (mushroom, vegetable, poultry, grass cutter farming as well as poultry feed processing) and artisanal trainings (ICT, tiling, plumbing, embroidery and plastic waste recycling) to youth, women and People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in 45 communities in these two districts.
The project is funded by the European Union and is aimed at increasing growth of local economies, promoting green businesses as well as generating revenue for local authorities to fund the provision of basic services and public amenities.
