Aixa from Mycelium Matters teaching about mushrooms at the African Rising Mushroom Festival
(Editor’s Note: Today’s Mycopreneur Newsletter is a guest post from Kenyan mushroom farmer George Tunje of Tujay Mushrooms, a 100% solar-powered mushroom farm. We met George at the African Rising Mushroom Festival in Uganda in November, which he traveled for 2 days by bus each way to attend. If you’d like to connect with George and Tujay Mushrooms, you can follow them on Instagram ( @tujaymushrooms), or LinkedIn (Tujay Mushroom).
George Tujay, Founder of Tujay Mushrooms in Kenya
Opportunities for Mushroom Farmers in Africa
by George Tunje of Tujay Mushrooms in Kenya
Mushroom cultivation in Africa is still one of the most overlooked and misunderstood agricultural opportunities. Many communities still believe mushrooms are simply forest gifts that cannot be cultivated. Others assume most mushrooms are poisonous and therefore not worth exploring. These beliefs have slowed down the growth of an industry that could transform livelihoods across the continent. The truth is that mushrooms can be grown, cloned, commercialized and scaled just like any other crop. What Africa lacks is awareness and practical expertise, not potential.
Attendees at the African Rising Mushroom Festival at Eco Agric Training Center in Hoima, Uganda
The market is already shouting for local production. In Kenya, supermarket shelves are filled with imported mushrooms from Rwanda. That demand should be met by our own farmers. To unlock this potential, farmers need to collaborate more by forming cooperative structures that help them set better prices, access equipment, and share knowledge. Strong collaboration would open doors for training programs, affordable inputs, and consistent production across the region.
There is also a big opportunity in teaching young people about mushrooms. Mushrooms already grow wild in many African farms, yet most people cannot identify them or understand their value. A young farmer may find Reishi or Oyster mushrooms growing naturally on the farm without knowing they can be cloned and cultivated for income. This gap in knowledge is a missed opportunity. Mushroom cultivation should be taught in schools, community training centers and youth innovation programs because it offers nutrition, fast income generation and climate smart farming.
It is time for African youth, researchers and entrepreneurs to come together and explore what fungi can truly offer. The opportunity is real, and it is waiting for those bold enough to take it. Beyond economic growth, mushroom farming is also a powerful tool in the fight against food insecurity in Africa. Mushrooms require very little space, very little water and very few resources. This means even a small homestead can grow enough mushrooms to feed a family.
They offer high quality protein, vitamins and minerals at a time when many African households struggle to access nutritious foods. Mushrooms can truly feed the hunger in our communities. There are also emerging opportunities in mushroom-based fertilizers, where spent substrate can be recycled back into farms to enrich soil health for other crops. The medicinal properties of various mushrooms offer another frontier, especially for supporting the health of older people who can benefit from immune boosting and anti-inflammatory compounds naturally found in fungi.
My own experience shows what is possible. Mushroom farming has provided me with a livelihood, employment opportunities and the confidence to build a business around food systems. From a simple idea in Kilifi to running a solar powered grow house. I have seen how mushrooms can empower a young African to think bigger and create impact. Africa is sitting on a food resource that is both ancient and futuristic. Mushrooms have always been part of our forests and farms, yet we have never fully valued their health properties or economic potential.
Tujay Mushrooms, located on a 4-acre farm in Kilifi County, Kenya, is an emerging business focused on growing fresh and medicinal mushrooms. Our mission is to provide top-quality mushrooms to local distributors, promoting the health and well-being of the community. Driven by a strong belief in the healing benefits of mushrooms, we are committed to this endeavor. With an emphasis on innovation and sustainability, Tujay Mushrooms is set to become a leading supplier of premium mushrooms in the region.
(Thanks for reading today’s Mycopreneur Newsletter, please let us know your thoughts and reach out directly to Geoge and Tujay Mushrooms on Instagram or LinkedIn to connect with him).