Mushroom Is the New Gold

“Have you ever stopped to think about the increasing number of pharmaceutical companies sprouting up and the alarming rise of unusual illnesses, even among young people in our society? Could it be the food we eat?”

The answer lies in the journey of Fafape Ama Foe. A chartered accountant who left her banking career and ventured into mushroom farming to provide a superfood that promotes healthy living, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment. Her goal is to provide essential nutrients for the human body while fostering an eco-friendly system.

Fafape Ama Foe the CEO of Mushroom Queen Global Limited

The Birth of a Mushroom Empire

If food were medicine, then mushroom is nature’s antidote to healthier life. Realizing this fact, Fafa made a profound decision to leave the banking profession into the uncertain field of agriculture. For her, this transition was more than a career change_ it was a heartfelt mission to remedy the escalating crisis of undernourishment and chronic illnesses that have bedeviled our society.

“For me, the rationale behind this decision was health. Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension are increasingly alarming worldwide, even affecting and claiming young lives which did not use to be the case. Mushroom is a superfood rich in antioxidant, vitamins, and essential minerals that fight several illnesses”.

Fafa’s moment of clarity came when the university lecturers whom she use to supply mushroom to on a small scale expressed their frustrations on their inability to access quality mushrooms. Identifying this gap, she set off to transform mushroom farming in Ghana ensuring that this nutrient packed food is readily available to all.

But her vision expanded beyond nutrition with time. In Ghana, sawmills produce tons of sawdust waste, much of which is burnt emitting harmful carbon monoxide into the air. In place of allowing this environmental hazard go uncontrolled, Fafa saw an opportunity to repurpose the sawdust into compost for mushroom plantation.

“The heaps from sawdust is unthinkable, and a vast portion of it end up on dumpsites or burnt causing pollution. Hence I saw an opportunity to make a change. We gather sawdust and reuse it as substrate for mushroom plantation. This  relatively controls environmental pollution while creating something delicious” she says

Overcoming Challenges in the Field

Similar to any entrepreneur venturing in to a new industry, Fafa was confronted with several hurdles. The most challenging one was the requisite technical knowledge on mushroom farming.

“I thought I was well vested in terms of knowledge when I started, but surprisingly my first 2,000 compost bags was a total failure” She admitted

Resolute, she sought for experts advise and training from the Food Research Institute, acquiring the complexities of contamination and farm management.

While navigating this challenge, another problem was finance. Although she had a solid background in banking, acquiring a startup capital was difficult to secure. Nonetheless, she participated in the Edith Grad program, a comprehensive business pitch program that provided her with an initial capital.

“That was the turning point. With funding from the Pitch and my family I was able to scale up my business from a backyard farming to a commercial business”.

Fafape mixing sawdust for the plantation of mushroom

Scaling a Dream to Reality

A venture that began with just 10 bugs of mushroom in 2015, has now transformed into large production exceeding 50,000 bags. She credits this growth to her dedication to her vision and team collaboration.

“You must have a clear vision, and clearly envision the outcome from the beginning. You should also know that your human capital and strategy are your greatest force”

Presently, her establishment employs 12 permanent workers, but during peak periods the workforce increases to meet demand. The company also supplies other mushroom farmers with mushroom further building the agriculture industry.

Mushroom

The Profitability of Mushrooms

Agriculture is often synonymous to vast farmlands and immerse investment, but mushroom farming repels this notion.

“You don’t require a huge space to start mushroom farming. A shaded area is enough to start. You also don’t need intense capital; just the right training is required” Fafa explains.

She further explained that mushroom offers a low cost yet high value production circus.

“We only bear the transportation cost of the sawdust for the production of the mushroom which is great for business. Mushrooms are not just nutritious, they are economically viable”

Women in Agriculture: Breaking Barriers

Although agriculture is a profitable venture in Ghana, it remains predominantly segregated for men. Fafa is one of the very few women making significant strides in this industry.

“Initially, people questioned why I wanted to venture into mushroom farming. I had people ask if a woman could be a mushroom farmer. But we are proving that women belong in this space.”

She also highlighted the challenges women encounter in farming with regards to land ownership, access to farming tools and finance.

“We must build our capacity, show competence, and demand our place in the industry because gender bias is deeply ingrained in agriculture. But first, we must remember no one will help until we take the first step.”

Having encountered these challenges herself, her company prioritizes empowering women and youth. Her establishment has trained over 150 women in mushroom farming providing financial independence for women in Ghana.

“When you empower a woman, you empower an entire nation. Financial independence reduces domestic violence, strengthens families, and uplifts communities. We are committed to driving this change through our training and internship programs.”

Fafape Ama Foe with her colleague

Agribusiness as the Future

As agriculture is increasingly evolving and becoming more profitable, Fafa believes that Ghana’s youth must reconsider their perception of agriculture.

“Agribusiness is not just about farming. The value chain is vast; stretching from packaging and branding to exportation. You can play a role without owning a land. Now, there is a vast market that requires processing and packaging to command higher prices. You could even earn more than the farmer producing the crop.”

She acknowledges that  one of the biggest challenges in the agriculture scenery is financial institution’s hesitance in providing financial aids due to unpredictable  yields. But with the interventions programs from the government tailored towards supporting farmers the narrative is changing hence the youth should take advantage of this opportunity.

“You need to bring your ideas to life. No one will fund an idea that remains in your head. Now, there are about five government intervention programs supporting farmers, the youth can capitalize on them.”

The Road Ahead: Expansion and Advocacy

Prospectively, she aims to expand her business, employ more women and youth, increasing the consumptions of mushroom in Ghana.

“Food is medicine. We must reduce dependency on processed foods and pharmaceuticals by embracing natural, nutrient-rich foods like mushrooms,” she says.

She also envisions leveraging technology to optimize farming processes with the growing interest and adaptation of artificial intelligence and technological tools for farming in Africa.

“AI and smart farming tools are revolutionizing agriculture. We must adopt them to ensure efficiency and resilience against climate challenges.”

Fafa’s journey is one driven by change, passion and innovation. She has revolutionized a niche rarely patronized by many into a thriving business that extends beyond profit making margin to sustainability and ecofriendly ecosystem.