FIJI MUSHROOM FARMERS ASSOCIATION

Fiji imports 124 metric tonnes of mushrooms worth $0.9 million annually. There is an existing demand for mushrooms within the local markets, namely restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels within the tourism sector. Most edible mushrooms sold in Fiji are imported as fresh, canned, and dried.
There are nine active mushroom producers in Fiji, six in the Central Division, and three in the Western Division. The selling price for fresh mushrooms ranges from $12.00 – $25.00 per kilogram.

Mushrooms are filled with nutritional benefits which creates lots of opportunities for our local farmers to venture into. Mushrooms contain the following: –
✓ Health-boosting vitamins and minerals, along with protein and dietary fiber; and
✓ Compounds (including polysaccharides and sterols) that may help protect your health, lower your chances of getting Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and prevent diseases.

The varieties of mushrooms that are sold locally are Button, Enoki, Oyster, and Shitake. Grey Oyster is a variety of mushroom which is locally grown by our farmers. The Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Centre in Nadi has been assisting our local mushroom farmers with the provision of mushroom substrates and Juncao cuttings. It has provided more than 103,000 mushroom substrates to over 900 mushroom farmers and over 1.2 million Juncao cuttings to 280 grazing livestock farming households. The Juncao grass provides solutions that address climate change, protection against soil erosion, sustainable land management, and in particular the production of nutritious feed for grazing livestock.

The Fiji Mushroom Farmers Association was established in 2019 and is registered with the Registry of the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations on the 25th of May 2020 to represent the mushroom farmers around Fiji. Fiji is confident to become a key player in the production of edible and medicinal mushrooms in the region, therefore, there is a need for more farmers to venture into mushroom farming to increase production.

Our Vision
Continuously improve and sustain the operation and production of mushrooms to increase and add value to our customers, improve the livelihood of the farmers and communities, and create more business opportunities.

Our Mission
• Committed to providing the safest, highest-quality, and freshest mushroom and mushroom products to the consumers and the market;
• Creating and providing a conducive and safe workplace, and stable employment opportunities for the communities;
• Increase awareness of the utilization of mushrooms and their health benefits to the public.
• Conducting a survey or visibility study with the markets, supermarkets, and the Hospitality industry on the volume needed to be purchased.

Our Values

• Ambition and commitment.
• Accountability and transparency.
• Accuracy and excellence.
• Hard work and preparedness.
• Honesty and humility.
• Trust and fairness.
• Quality and uniqueness.
• Unity.

Achievements so far

• Registration of the Association to the Registrar of the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations – 25th of May 2020;
• Registration of 146 members;

Objectives:
The objectives of the association shall be to: –
✓ Conduct a knowledge and skills gaps assessment of the new and current mushroom growers;
✓ Implement the Juncao Centre’s Standard SOPs to address gaps in the cultivation of mushrooms;

✓ Publish a training handbook before the AGM in 2020;
✓ Focus on the quality of the mushroom, yield consistency, and its sustainability;
✓ Ensure cluster locations where target markets are easily accessible;
✓ Establish mushroom farmer clusters where linkages to the market would be accessible;
✓ Explore other marketing options of mushrooms;
✓ Implement a proper Post-harvest management process regarding the packaging of mushrooms; and
✓ Link the farmers directly to the market.

Strategies:
• Empower mushroom growers to address the knowledge and skills gaps in the cultivation and production of mushrooms;
• Ensure donor funding is correctly directed to providing the mushroom farmers with the basic tools to ensure good quality yields;
• Capitalize on funding to acquire a thrashing machine for the Juncao grass to produce substrates, a bagging machine for packing substrate and mycelium, and autoclaves (pasteurizing) machine for sterilizing the substrates;
• Continue to work in collaboration with the Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Centre in Nadi in training the farmers in learning how to produce and reproduce mycelium spores, and to cultivate mushrooms;
• Continue to work in collaboration with our key buyers; and
• Focus on responsible sourcing that is embedded in our customers’ procurement process and that supports local farmers.

Action:
• Conducting a knowledge and skills assessment of the current and new mushroom farmers to ascertain their knowledge and skills gaps in the cultivation and production of mushrooms.
• Embark discussions with the Fiji Chefs Association to understand their preferences for mushrooms.
• Empower growers on governance and compliance with relevant Policies and Legislation pertaining to the cultivation, production, and marketing of mushrooms.
• Empower growers with climate-smart farming concepts and the Value Chain system.
• Organize with the Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Centre in Nadi to conduct a training workshop for the mushroom farmers to empower them with proper skills and knowledge in mushroom cultivation and production.
• Link growers (suppliers) to the market (buyers).

Mushroom Varieties in Fiji
The mushroom variety which is locally cultivated is the Grey Oyster.
The substrate for the above is provided by the Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Centre in Nadi.

Market Prices
The price of fresh mushrooms ranges from $12.00 – $25.00 per kilogram.

Membership
The membership is open to any person who is currently planting mushrooms and those farmers who are interested in planting mushrooms.
The entrance fee for members of the Association shall be $20.00 and the subscription fee shall be $20.00 annually. The entrance fee and the subscription fee shall be non-refundable.

Members who are more than thirteen (13) weeks in arrears of subscription shall not be entitled to any Association benefits, nor will they be permitted to vote at any Association’s meeting. Members whose subscriptions are more than thirteen (13) weeks in arrears shall cease to be a member of the Association.
All members must abide by the rules of the Association. All intending new members have to apply by paying the Entry and Subscription fee and filling out
the FCLC Registration Form. The Registration Form can be obtained online or from the FCLC Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Level 2 Hugh Robinson Complex, Grantham Road, Raiwaqa, Suva.