WHILE it has long been introduced and embraced in other areas in the country, the mushroom production is still fairly new to Davao City.
Mushroom grower in the city, the 45-year-old Liezel Calañas admitted that only few people appreciate this kind of farming because of the much lower profit compared to other crops.
More farmers would go into farming other crops where profit is already sure than a new industry. However, she believes on its potential in agribusiness and indeed it is slowly getting known today.
"Ang mushroom production dati, hindi ganun kakilala. Sa Luzon maingay na ang mga mushroom growers pero sa atin, talagang hindi pa. Mahirap pa siya i-introduce sa market (Mushroom production is not quite known in Davao City unlike in Luzon where it is popular. It is not easy to introduce this in the market)," she said.
"But I got interested into it because of the many health benefits it could give to a person. I personally appreciate mushrooms after my father was healed through mushroom diet. Naisip ko na gawin na din itong business (I thought of making this into a business)," she added.
Her interests in cooking, herbal planting, gardening, and the urge to have extra income pushed her to research about potential businesses.
In a small space in their backyard in Barangay Mintal, Liezel started tissue culture or the process of growing mushrooms in 2016. She started learning the methods of mushroom production, specifically the oyster mushroom, through Youtube videos and decided to get trainings for further knowledge about mushrooms.
In 2017, after various trainings in Tagum City, Liezel learned to make other products other than fresh or raw oyster mushrooms.
A year after, Liezel and his husband Alixes bought a 430-square-meter land in Catalunan Grande which they converted into a mushroom farmhouse and decided to officially name their business Axzel's Mushroom Farm. Among their products are the crispy mushroom chicharon, mushroom powder, dried mushrooms, mushroom chili garlic, mushroom with bagoong, mushroom tocino, and mushroom tapa. All their products have no preservatives.
"Even if we bought the land already, I was still a littel worried about how I will be able to market our products in the community," Liezel said.
Another challenge for them is educating most consumers about how they grow the mushrooms. Most people would think these mushrooms were just from anywhere which may be unsafe to eat. But the challenge did not stop them to patiently and slowly explain the process of mushroom production during bazaars and other events.
At present, products of Axzel's mushroom farm could be ordered through their Facebook page and selected stores in the city. With the help of the Department of Agriculture, the Davao Region Mushroom Growers, where Liezel and her husband are members, will be alloted a space in Abreeza Ayala Mall sometime in August. This will help the mushrooms growers in the region for market access.
"Right now, we need mass production because some orders we received are already in bulk. We are working on with supplying the demand for our products," she said.
Liezel said venturing into this business is not easy but all worth it in the end. She said they still have a long way to go, but she can now see clearly the potential of the mushroom industry in Davao City.