The Community-Based Mushroom Production Project (CBMPP) of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFO-CAR) trained a group of individuals on how to produce oyster and shiitake mushroom at the Cordillera Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CIARC) located at the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center Cmpd., Brgy. Dontogan, Baguio City.
CBMPP is a project that provides opportunities to organizations and interested individuals to venture into mushroom entrepreneurship. It has a mission to conduct researches on new technologies & approaches in the development of mushroom industry in Cordillera through the provision of training, livelihood starter kits and technical assistance to interested organizations and individuals. Livelihood starter kits are provided to trained organization so that immediately after the training, they could start their mushroom venture.
The training was also collaborated with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide tips on how to start an enterprise, how to register the business, how to become competent entrepreneurs, among others.
The training was requested by the Cashit Multi-Purpose Association from Tuba, Benguet whose members wanted to be trained in mushroom production as an added source of income. There were also participants from Itogon, Benguet who needed the training as one of their credentials in applying for jobs abroad. Moreover, some of the participants were fruiting bag producers or mushroom growers already yet wanted to enhance further their knowledge with the new technologies in the industry.
According to one of the participants who has a mushroom production business, he keeps attending training because the theories and technologies taught are results of researches. He always seeks for new and proven techniques to improve further his skills.
Mushroom production can be a segmented enterprise depending on the interest and available resources of an individual. Some may collect and supply raw materials to mushroom producers. Some may concentrate on producing mushroom spawn. Or for some, producing fruiting bags would be convenient for them. Moreover, some may also buy fruiting bags to produce and market fresh mushroom. Another venture in mushroom production today is the processing of mushroom into snacks such as tempura, cookies, lumpia, crispy mushroom, chicharon, pie, miki, lomi, patty, balls, ice cream and among others.
The CBMPP is open to interested organizations or individuals interested in mushroom production. They entertain requests from different people’s organization through letters addressed to the Regional Executive Director of DA-RFO-CAR. Also, they have scheduled training every month for walk-in trainees but due to high demand and limited training funds, interested individuals have to pre-enlist to secure a slot. For more details, they may contact Mr. Wilfredo A. Tabugader, CBMPP Regional Focal Person through his number 0998-978-5947 / (074)300-4497 or Ms. Evangeline T. Balderama through her number 0908-646-8919/(074) 444-8986.
By Karen T. Gawigawen
