According to John Aroye Okhuoya, who is a professor of Mycology and Plant Pathology at the University of Benin, mushrooms are a crop which has a huge economic potential in Nigeria but has been mostly relegated to the background.

This crop is the mushroom which experts in the field have described as a major crop that if properly harnessed could boost the economy of the country.

John Aroye Okhuoya believes that mushroom growing can be big business if only the Nigerian government can encourage others to go into mushroom farming.

He raised the alarm that mushrooms could go extinct if not grown on large farms, as the environment was changing and most of the indigenous species are disappearing, and that is not good for the country, he added.

He expressed optimism that mushroom production can create jobs in Nigeria and reduce the poverty and restiveness which has characterised the youth in recent times.

The Dilomat boss who described mushrooms cultivation as a “white Agricultural Revolution” said, if a youth was empowered with at least N30,000 to N40,000 to learn mushroom cultivation, they would be able to have a turnover of between N500,000 to N1 million within 6-10 months.

At the end of that period, he should be able to have close to N1 million at his disposal.

“I am talking about 30,000 to N40,000 weekly. In one month, that translates to close on N1 million. It is the cumulative sales of mushrooms” he said.

1 N = 0.0032 USD