Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Eldoret Mushroom Team specializes in the production of high-quality spawn. We major in oyster and white button spawn. Packaging ranges from 100 ml to 10 l to cater to all kinds of customers. Training services are also offered for new mushroom farmers.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Eldoret Mushroom Team dedicated the last two years to developing quality mushroom spawn for white button and oyster mushrooms. After 6 month-piloting-stage period, we are ready to roll out our products. For the Oyster spawn, the packaging volumes are 100 ml, 500 ml, 1 l, 2 l, 5 l, and 10 l. For the white button Mushrooms, the packaging ranges from 1l, 5l, 10 l, and 15 l. The packaging material is polypropylene. The 100 ml and 500 ml Oyster spawn are for those costumers who grow mushroom for fun and for home consumption. For both oyster and white button, the 1 l and 2 l volumes are targeted at new entrants who still want to learn the art. Volumes above 5 l are targeted at commercial mushroom farmers. We have served customers from North rift, South rift, Nyanza, Western, Central, and Coastal regions of Kenya. We have also received interest in our products from Zimbabwe.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The challenges of mushroom spawn in Kenya are threefold: high cost, inadequate supply, and low quality. Most spawns are imported, making them expensive and discouraging many potential mushroom farmers. This dependency also makes the supply vulnerable to disruptions and currency fluctuations, leading to shortages that deter willing farmers. Even trained farmers are hesitant to adopt mushroom farming due to these problems. Additionally, quality problems arise from delays between spawn production and use by farmers. Enhancing local production capacity will address these challenges.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

Currently, white button spawns are available in 15 l capacities because they are imported. We have made it more flexible by providing 1 l and 5 l in addition to the 15 l. Smaller volumes are useful for commercial farmers who need extra spawn after using up their initial supply. This is particularly crucial since compost preparation is labor-intensive, and it's essential to ensure all compost is used without being left unspawned due to an exhausted initial supply. There will also be a shorter time between the production of the spawn and its use by the farmers. This will guarantee quality. Oyster spawns available, are packaged in glass bottles with a maximum capacity of 1.5 l. The main disadvantage of this packaging is its fragility, making it unsuitable for long-distance transportation. Further, many commercial farmers normally require above 30 litres. This is inconvenient given that the maximum capacity is 1.5 l.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our spawn will be bought by the mushroom growers. There are different categories of mushroom growers as reflected by the different volumes. First category are the commercial mushroom farmers. This category will require the large volumes of the spawn. Another category is those who grow mushrooms for home consumption. This second category is grossly under-served in the current market.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2021-10-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Mr. Jackton Onyango Mr. Onyango has extensive experience in mushroom farming spanning 40 years. His presence greatly boosts the confidence in our products by our customers. Miss Caroline Caroline has a BSc, In Microbiology with extensive experience in tissue culture a skill needed in Spawn manufacturing.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

The availability of mushroom spawn will spur economic growth in rural and peri-urban regions of Kenya. Many initiatives to alleviate rural poverty have been directed at training the residents on mushroom farming. The biggest hindrance to the success of such programs is the lack of a consistent supply of mushroom spawn.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Ease of mushroom farming occasioned by readily available spawn will be a source of livelihood for many families hence reducing hunger.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Mushroom itself is a crop with many health benefits. This will be particularly true for those buying the spawn for home consumption. Alternative sources of livelihood in mushroom farming will raise the standard of living for the mushroom farmers thus raising their well-being.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Income from mushroom production is enough to enable those practicing it to cater to their own educational needs and those of those dependent on them

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Mushroom farming is amenable to women empowerment since it does not require one to have large tracts of land. Land ownership is one of the problems curbing women progress.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Those directly employed in the spawn production labs will be able to get a decent work. Further, due to lack of job opportunities many rural residents and especially women engage in livelihood activities such beer brewing and firewood collection. Making it easy to grow mushrooms due to easy access to spawn will draw out many people from such engagements and hence achieve decent work.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Spawn production has many avenues for innovation. There are still many more mushroom types from Africa that have not yet been artificially cultivated. This will be our target after fully establishing the current enterprize

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The smaller sized packages are amenable to city dwellers who want to grow their own mushrooms for consumption.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

3

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Mushroom production is done using mainly farm wastes. These would have otherwise decayed and GHG.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

As i have already alluded to, farm wastes are use as the principal raw materials for mushroom production.. These would have otherwise been taken to land fills or burnt thus contributing to GHG. Producing more spawn where there are local farmers would help reduce the long distance transportation thus contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions from planes.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Many prospective people who will take up mushroom farming are currently involved in economic activities that harm the environment. Many women have abandoned firewood selling due to practicing mushroom cultivation.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

In areas where mushroom farming is done, farmers form groups that enable them serve the market well. Through this, there is more peace even in regions that was previously conflict prone.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

There will be a strong partnership with non-governmental organizations that promote rural development through woman empowerment. Many NGOs train women in mushroom production but fail to give a constant supply of spawn. Eldoret Mushroom Team will fill this void.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

3

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

3

05.08 Justification

1. There are indeed mushroom farmers already who import their own spawn. 2. The main improvement is the better packaging. 3. There is a demand among the for-fun growers. Smaller sizes enable small-scale production for subsistence.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Sylvan They are located in South Africa. Positioning ourselves locally will be our major advantage. Jomo Kenyatta University Though they are still our collaborators, they have major weakness in bureaucracy. Furhter, our type of packaging is more convenient.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes I have introduced mushroom farming primarily to women.