DILIMAN, Quezon City—To provide knowledge in successful mushroom farming technologies, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) offered a free seminar showcasing cultivation practices and processing of various species of this commodity.

Among the species commonly cultivated are straw and oyster mushrooms. To provide tips on how to successfully grow these, Marilou Facun, mushroom grower and owner of the Tingtano Integrated Farm, served as resource person during the seminar.

Facun shared how they manage the mushroom project in their farm in Tarlac, which is an ATI-certified Learning Site for Organic Agriculture. For those planning to put up a mushroom business, Facun said that they can start with straw and oyster mushrooms as these are in demand and easy to cultivate.

Discussing some practical ways to start mushroom farming, Facun stressed “Don’t invest too much at the beginning. Instead, use readily available resources in your area first.” Other practices she shared include using dried banana leaves and rice straws as bedding.

Her lecture also included the preparation of mushroom housing, maintenance, and harvesting. Likewise, she led a hands-on demonstration on making mushroom-flavored yema (custard candy) as part of mushroom processing.

Lastly, Facun encouraged the participants to attend as many mushroom-related training, seminars, and exhibits as they can so they can get ideas on product innovation.

“This is where you can meet people who are also into the same venture as you. You can learn many things from them,” she said.

Some 220 participants from Metro Manila and nearby areas were present during the seminar. This was held last November 22, 2019 at the ATI Rural Development and Education Center in Diliman, Quezon City.