Pleurotus Tuberregium, Mushroom farming the next oil well – Rtn. Ibiloye

As an alternative source of income for farmers and a natural alternative to available treatments, Rotary Club of Umuahia North District 9142 has recently made a groundbreaking discovery uncovering the potential of a mushroom, Pleurotus tuber-regium.

Addressing about 100 farmers at the Umuika Civic centre, Okwu Olokoro in Umuahia South L.G.A, of Abia State shortly before their training on ‘Usu’ (Pleurotus Tuberregium) and mushroom farming, otherwise known as fungiculture in commemoration of Rotary International Economic Community Development month, the Club’s President, Rotarian Jonathan Ibiloye said that fungiculture has the potential to be the next oil well.

Ibiloye who said that investing in fungiculture now will be the wisest decision the farmers ever made, pointed out that ‘usu’ and mushroom farming has evolved into a thriving agricultural practice with profound ecological and economic importance.

His words, “Several nations including China, the largest producer of mushroom globally, United States, South Korea, Netherland, Brazil and India have embraced mushroom cultivation for its economic, medical, nutritional and environmental benefits”.

The Create Hope President said that agriculture remains a more profitable venture for food security and financial independence, particularly now that the economy of many nations is nosediving, and the devaluation of the Naira.

Rotarian Jonathan further maintained that dependence on white-collar jobs can be frustrating financially, and diverting to agriculture is the sure way to financial freedom.