The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) is currently emphasizing the need to invest in research and technology transfer and training more farmers on mushroom growing.
Audace Hirwa, Director of Documentation, Publication, Communication and Technology Promotion Unit at RAB has stated that Juncao technology is one of the technologies that Rwanda is leveraging to scale up mushroom growing. The technology was invented by Professor Lin Zhanxi from China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in the 1980s, and has been shared with over 100 countries, including Rwanda.
“Actually using Juncao technology in mushroom cultivation requires mushroom shed, mushroom tubes, and fruiting body management,” he told. The Chinese-invented Juncao technology to grow mushrooms uses low-cost materials. Juncao technology uses chopped grass as a substrate for growing edible and medicinal mushrooms and as forage for livestock.
The adoption of Juncao technology in Rwanda consists of research and demonstration activities, introduction and adaptation of suitable JUNCAO grass varieties, training and extension activities, and Post-harvest management, RAB says. About 35,000 mushroom farmers have so far been trained on Juncao technology.
