 Presentation to the mushroom stakeholders at Fair view Hotel on 13 th March  By Margaret Orina.  MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. 1

 Importance of mushrooms in the agricultural sector  Aspects in the policies addressing mushroom production constraints  Current policies supporting the agricultural sector 2

 Mushroom is a high value niche market product.  In 2005, the industry was valued at ksh, 340 Million.  It was mainly grown by 5 large scale producers some of whom have abandoned production.  From 2005, shift from large to smallholder farmers.  Main varieties grown are button, oyster, medicinal varieties and local varieties, 3

 Natural resource (Environment).mushroom biodegrades by use of waste products.  Gender friendly as land is not a key production factor therefore appeals to (dissabled, women, youth and even children)  High nutritional & medicinal value (vulnerable groups and lifestyle diseases).  Employment creation potential  Income generation if done competitively 4

 Kenya’s agriculture continues to be dominated by staple food crops and traditional high value export crops like tea, coffee and horticulture.  Declining production resources (Land, water, labor,capital)  Increasing population  Increasing lifestyle diseases needing nutritional interventions. 5

 Transform the competitiveness of mushrooms to reach the regional and international market.  Adopt modern technologies to make the industry efficient  exploit the industry for food security,  increased farm incomes  poverty reduction. 6

 Expensive and unknown quality of spawn.  Lack of skills on substrates and their preparation  Lack of skills at production level  Lack of skills on structures in mushroom production  High perishability and poor processing skills  Poor linkages between various chain actors  Lack of information flow among chain actors  Lack of nutritional benefits and cooking methods 7

 Building competency of extension (public and private) to address capacity gaps along the entire value chain  Processing and Utilization of mushroom products to increase demand and competitiveness.  Markets and Market Access (infrastructure and market studies ) promotion 8

 Standards. Environmental aspects (pytosanitary and food safety issues) at all linkages in the value chain  Strengthening linkages of key Institutions Involved to avoid duplication and promote information sharing.  Strengthening research and development along all the sectors of the value chain  Value chain governance and strengthening linkages.  Access to finance. 9

 Vision 2030 (agriculture is one of the economic pillars) and can be linked CADDP  Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Plan  Agricultural Sector Development Strategy (ASDS)  National Extension and private sector policy(NASEP)  National food and Nutrition security policy  National horticulture development strategy  The National agribusiness policy  National emerging crops development strategy.  The constitution of Kenya (2010) 10

 Mushroom industry is an emerging industry and needs a lot of institutional coordination and backup from the government.  Thank you. 11