Mushroom farming - a major source of home-based income for Afghan women
In the traditional society of Afghanistan, men are mainly responsible for supporting their families financially. However, many families across the country have lost their male breadwinners due to several decades of conflict. Therefore, some women are forced to provide for their families, which is especially challenging because in many cases, according to the culture and norms, women do not work out of their homes.
Latifa, from Char Asiab District of Kabul Province, lost her husband four years ago in a village conflict. Since then, her life has been very stressful. The mother of six is living with her children in a cold hilly area in Qala-e-Koh village.
“I can’t forget the moment I lost my husband. It felt like I lost everything. I was so worried for my daughters. It was incredibly challenging to support my family in the absence of my husband,” the 33-year-old widow from Char Asiab said.
In addition, she is concerned about her two teenage daughters who can’t attend school because of the ongoing ban on girls’ secondary education. Latifa can do tailoring and embroidery but it’s not a profitable business anymore because the purchasing power of most people has decreased due to the continuing economic crisis in the country.
In October 2022, FAO trained Latifa on mushroom farming and provided her with necessary cultivation tools. She received spawn, straw, thermometer, wheat brane, gypsum and an oven. This support was intended to contribute to solving both the economic and nutrition conditions of her family.
She is now able to cultivate and produce mushrooms from her house using the inputs and training she received from FAO as well as with her daughters’ support.
“I am happy that I received the training. I learned how to produce mushrooms and now I enjoy farming,” Latifa said describing the impact of the training she received from FAO.
She was organized in an all-female Common Interest Group where she shared ideas and experiences about mushroom cultivation with other women from her village.
“I also forget my stress when I participate in the women group’s activities and social gatherings. We have fun and exchange stories, ideas and experiences with one another,” she added.
As a cash crop, in addition to generating a reliable income, mushroom can improve livelihoods through the generation of a fast-growing and nutritious source of food.
The 33-year-old widow shared that she cooks mushrooms for her children and sells the excess to fellow villagers for extra income. In first week of July, she harvested 12 kg of mushrooms and sold 8 kg for 2 800 (33 usd) Afghani to her neighbors. Furthermore, she generously assisted her sister in learning mushroom cultivation by providing her with necessary equipment and tools to help her start her own mushroom farming venture.
Mushroom production is one of the best farming practices for rural women that can be done in a small space at home and can have a high yield in a short time. Mushroom farming provides opportunities for vulnerable women to produce good quality food and earn an income as the demand for mushroom is very high in the market.
FAO introduced oyster mushroom and spawn production in Afghanistan in 2015 to support and train 100 women in Balkh Province. In 2019, 40 senior students at Kabul University’s Agriculture Department were trained on mushroom farming.
Currently, FAO is supporting 15 women entrepreneurs from Char Asiab District who are provided with necessary spawn and mushroom production tools. These are mainly women who recently lost their jobs and girls who are banned from going to school.