Rev Theophilus K. Quartey, the National President of the Mushroom Growers and Exporters Association has appealed to stakeholders in agriculture to support farmers to expand the mushroom industry.

He said this would go a long way to create jobs and alleviate poverty in the country.

Rev Quartey made the appeal at a five-day workshop for members of the association in Accra.

The workshop was also used to formally announce the existence of the association, for the necessary recognition by government and to build relationship with stakeholders.

It was attended by value-chain actors in the industry like spawn producers, croppers, baggers and marketers.

Rev Quartey said if the 500 members of the association were assisted, they could produce more mushroom and generate foreign exchange that could out-weight the turnover of that of cocoa and also create job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.

Mr Ernest Agbenohevi, a Consultant of E.A. First Solution Consult, a facilitator of the workshop, said mushrooms produced by local farmers were free from chemicals and was medicinal.

He said the product is as natural as the organic and a therapy for a number of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, among others, as well as for lactating mothers.

Mr Agbenohevi said the industry needed serious financial support hence the workshop to involve all the players to find the way forward.

He called for cooperation among the stakeholders to build partnerships and work consciously for mushroom production to thrive, saying; “There is no employment blue print for jobs creation than mushroom production.”

Mr Agbenoheve said: “There is a big market out there,” and asked the members not to rest on their oars.

Mr Ebow Graham, the Project Manager of Hopeline Institute, a micro-finance agency said agriculture financing was risky and that truthfulness and integrity were hallmarks of banks in giving out loans.

He asked the members of the association to draw effective budget and repayment plan, put up well-structured memorandum of understanding or agreement to have a better relationship with the financial institutions.

Mr Graham urged them step up the standardization and packaging of their products to attract marketing and register with the District Assemblies for recognition.

Mr Felix Ayi Hammond, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Ga East-Abokobi, assured the association that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is ever ready to help the members to achieve their goals.

He said if mushroom production was embraced it would help reduce unemployment and poverty.

The participants of the workshop were taken through production, business planning, entrepreneurship and recording keeping.