Mushroom Industry

Why Mushroom Industry?


Mushrooms is a very good source of high quality protein food suitable for all age groups including vegetarians; a source of therapeutics and/or preventive nutraceuticals /nutriceuticals. Value- low agroresidues can be converted to value-added products via mushroom cultivation and contribute to the economy of the country.
 


The mushroom industry is considered as an ideal practice to utilize agricultural residues for the production of food, feed and fuel.  This activity is not only environment friendly but also gives humans a food based nutraceutical. The eastern countries including the Asean nations have a long tradition in edible and medicinal mushrooms as not only as aculinary delight but for their nutraceutical properties.  
 
The DOA is actively championing the development of the mushroom industry as this industry is seen not as a side income earner but as an industry that can be the main economic activity or business of interested growers and farmers.  This will also play a role in the balance of trade as Malaysia had imported  more than RM 86.44 million of mushrooms in 2007 compared to about RM 25 million in 2004.


Import/Export (2007) of Mushrooms

  • Import: 21 077 MT worth RM 86.44 million
  • Export: 4805 MT worth RM 33.45 million

Export: 4805 MT worth RM 33.45 million
Number of mushroom growers in Malaysia (2008)
Total 300 (Size: kg/day )
     < 50     - 271
     50 -100 -  57
     500       -  6 :
Production : 24 000kg/day
Consumer Demand : >50 000 kg/day
 

Marketing and Publicity of Mushrooms via Public Talks, Exhibtions and Seminars

  • Types of mushrooms/products : Fresh / Dried / Processed – nutraceutical, functional food, finger food, health drinks
  • Health Benefits: Need to emphasise the health benefits of eating fresh mushrooms
  • Consumers: In Malaysia mushroom consumption is 324 gm/person/year compared to 2.5kg chicken /person/year (DOA and MAM 2005)
  • Target: Aim to increase consumption to 2 kg/person/year  -and this will spur an increase in production from 5 500 to 50 000 tonnes per year.

© 2009 Malaysian Mushroom Research Association. All Rights Reserved.