Lagos: An agriculture expert, Prof. Sami Ayodele, has urged the Federal Government to invest in mushroom production, highlighting its potential to generate a trillion naira annually for the country and other huge economic benefits. Ayodele, a Professor of Botany at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ayodele stated that greater investment and awareness are needed to elevate the sector to a major economic driver. He emphasized that substantial investment and awareness initiatives are crucial for the mushroom sector to reach its full potential and significantly contribute to the country's economic growth. With Nigeria's rich endowment of various edible and medicinal mushroom species, the sector remains lucrative yet largely underdeveloped.
Ayodele highlighted that if properly harnessed, mushroom farming could contribute significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through both local consumption and international export. He estimated that the mushroom industry has the potential to contribute up to 25 percent of Nigeria's GDP, citing the growing global demand for mushrooms due to their health and nutritional benefits.
The expert identified major challenges facing the sector's development as technical knowledge gaps, inadequate infrastructure, credit constraints, and limited public awareness. He stressed the need for deliberate investments in training, accessible financing, expert guidance, and ongoing sensitization efforts to help realize the sector's full potential.
Ayodele called for a strategic and sustained approach that includes deliberate capacity-building through targeted training programs, provision of accessible and affordable financing options, consistent access to expert guidance and mentorship, and continuous sensitization efforts to raise awareness, shift mindsets, and foster a supportive ecosystem for growth and innovation.
He also urged private investors and government agencies to prioritize the mushroom value chain, describing it as a viable path to economic diversification and job creation. Ayodele believes that with the right policies and support systems in place, mushroom farming can become one of Nigeria's most lucrative agricultural sub-sectors.