January 6, 2025. The potential of mushroom as one alternative source for economic development has enlightened the community groups in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.
This was through the training conducted on mushroom production in December 2024 at separate venues in both provinces.
A women group named Sigay nu mga Babay facilitated the activity for the people’s organizations in Maguindanao del Sur, while the Ikram Agriculture Cooperative provided the inputs for the local groups in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.
Both trainers have established a good track record as local organization by which mushroom production is one of their activities in sustaining their groups that contributes to the community as well.
“We produce mushrooms out of the raw materials like rice straws, corn cobs and sawdust. We sell the fresh mushroom consumed as vegetable (but technically classified as a fungus) and we also make mushroom crackers”, the trainer groups told.
During the training, resource persons discussed about the idea of social enterprise as one relevant role of one organization towards sustainability and being able to expand operations to benefit others.
They lectured about mushroom production using raw materials that are commonly available in communities such as rice straws, corn cobs and sawdust.
Actual process of production for each raw material was demonstrated during the training where the participants directly learned the methods, which they performed right away at the activity.
Marryann Katua of Talibadok IP Maguindanaon People’s Organization is hopeful of the possibility of mushroom production in their village.
“There are lot of corn cobs in our place, almost a hectare, which we burn only. Now we learned that we can make use of them to produce mushroom for another venture that is useful for our group and for our entire community”, Maryann stated.
The group from Brgy. Tuayan, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur shared the optimism for this added learning, which they believe is beneficial for everyone.
“Alhamdulillah (praise to Allah), for this continuing support and guidance to our groups. These raw materials are easily available since most of us are farmers”, the Tuayan group said.
Inputs on proper sanitation practices were relevant part of the training to ensure successful production of mushroom.
Mushroom contains health benefits good for immune system, brain, cancer prevention, weight management and others.
According to Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), this initiative on social enterprise development in Bangsamoro communities works for Output 5.5. Self-help and social enterprise interventions are widely promoted in the BARMM of the SUBATRA-ECSO project.
SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
Training on social enterprise for various people’s organizations across BARMM has been completed earlier through the manual developed by the project together with the Bangsamoro CSOs and in collaboration with the Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA-BARMM).
The BDA Inc. is the local implementing partner of the project in collaboration with Bangsamoro CSOs.
