A Professor of Mycology/Plant Pathology at Landmark University Omu-Aran, has said that mass cultivation of mushrooms in Nigeria can end food scarcity in the country.
Delivering the Second Inaugural Lecture of the Landmark University entitled, ‘Mushrooms Renaissance: Biodiversity, Ethnomycological and Agro-Perceptions’ on Monday at Omu-Aran, Omorefosa said, mushrooms remained the easiest food items to grow but with huge profits.
According to him, “spawn production is the most technical aspect of the mushroom production chain and requires the generation and growth trial of nutritionally selected strains of mushrooms in the laboratory before their release to the public. It is my resolve to lay a formidable foundation for the take-off of mushrooms production centre in Landmark University in no distant time.''
He said the Federal Government should assemble interested mycophagists “who will stick to edible mushrooms that are familiar” rather than experimenting with new ones and ensure proper certification of mushroom production farms or stores.
Among other advantages of mushroom cultivation, the Don stated that it required a minute starting capital and low cost implements, just as he disclosed that it involved a process that is mainly organic “from farm to fork” and minimised the application of synthetic chemical inputs or expensive antibiotics.
Besides, he believed that it could be a political weapon for youth and women empowerment, rural development, agricultural products diversification, complementary source of agro-income and biofuel generation.
