Building a Mushroom Laboratory in Rwamwanja Settlement
Investing in Diversity and Food Security
Rwamwanja Rural Foundation (RRF) has been serving refugee and host communities in the area surrounding Rwamwanja settlement by providing training and support in regenerative practices such as mushroom cultivation, permaculture, and bio-briquette production. The success of these programs, in community homes, spaces and demonstration sites, has contributed to the continued growth of RRF impact and services.
Mushroom cultivation has been a particularly successful initiative of RRF, as it creates accessible pathways to nutritious food, improves livelihoods, and fosters entrepreneurial capacity building through the sale of market and value-added products. The physical requirements for growing mushrooms are not overly strenuous, making it accessible to many people of differing ages, genders, and physical abilities. And importantly, mushrooms can also be cultivated indoors and outdoors, in big and small spaces.
Due to the ease of mushroom farming and its ability to be grown in smaller spaces without sunlight, RRF founder Bemeriki Bisimwa saw the potential for it to integrate beneficially into the daily activities of many community members who lack access to land. The laboratory would expand the supply of growing resources to a larger group of farmers. "I have the vision of supporting 10 groups, which is 350 families," Bermiriki shared. To achieve this goal, the laboratory would be essential to increasing the speed and quantities needed to cultivate and store master cultures, make grain spawn, and inoculate the gardens for fellow mushroom farmers to take home.
“I am trying my level best in finding solutions to support my fellow refugees and host communities. ”
Bemeriki partnered with Samantha Koch from Nourish All to bring the mushroom laboratory to life - a space to mix cultures and store materials safely as contamination can easily ruin a crop. The laboratoty also allows RFF a space to consistently monitor the growth of their mushrooms and perform tests to optimize growth.
The mushroom laboratory has accelerated their scale of operations and serves as a central resource for new and established mushroom farmers.
Recent Highlights:
Bestowed with a Letter of Recommendation from The Parliament of Uganda
Neighbouring communities requesting to undertake group mushroom cultivation training
Acquired 3 acre plot to develop an additional regenerative demonstration site
Bemeriki is passionate about sharing the multifaceted benefits of mushroom cultivation for all people. "As you can see, fresh mushrooms can be used for generating income, making cookies, pizza, tea, and porridge. We're also dehydrating surplus yields to preserve and use for medicinal purposes.".
RRF is making accessible pathways to nutritious food, improving livelihoods, and fostering entrepreneurial capacity building with their programs, which will accelerate with the establishment of their mushroom laboratory.
If you would like to read more about the programs and mission of Rwamwanja Rural Foundation, visit them online at rwamwanjaruralfoundation.org
The new RRF mushroom laboratory has increased the supply capacity of mushroom cultivations needs to communities in the region.