Mashroom Varieties

Mushrooms are a staple of a variety of different culinary traditions and one of the few edible fungi. Although historically humans have consumed a diverse array of mushrooms for nutritional and medicinal purposes, it is only in recent years that this diversity has been brought to the foreground of culinary practice. As commercial cultivation improves, and global markets expand, the variety of readily accessible mushrooms has increased substantially. In order to improve nutrition and diet, especially for disadvantaged populations, mushrooms are relatively rich in proteins and certain vitamins. In addition, they have many mineral elements  like sodium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and iron are the highest. Hence, mushroom plays a highest role in malnutrition reduction and prevention of children stunting

Cultivation of mushrooms can be carried out at a family level with modest investments- particularly to assist those poor families who are most in need of material support.

Mushrooms have a short growth cycle, do not require a large area of land and cost effective as simple technologies can be applied.

2. varieties

There are many types of edible mushrooms but the ones grown in Rwanda are two: pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma

• Pleurotus ostreatus is a common edible mushroom grown commercially around the world for food. They are simple to prepare and offer a delicate and sweet flavor.

• Ganoderma is a type of mushrooms which are extensively used in traditional Asian medicines.