The Papua New Guinea mushroom market shows a considerable gap between demand and supply, with an annual requirement of 35 tons, while only 3.5 tons are currently supplied. This was highlighted by Pioneer Mushroom managing director Peti Lafanama during the completion of the China Aid Upland Rice and Juncao Technology Project demonstration base and the ground-breaking of a multimedia centre in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.
Mushrooms are grown in Komiufa, North Goroka Tahuku LLG, and sold locally at K15–K16 (US$3.90–US$4.20) per kilogram. A mushroom tube takes around eight days to grow and can produce stems weighing 3–4 kilograms. "Right now we are supplying only 3.5 tons (in packages) annually, aggregated from farmers, whether individually or as a group," Lafanama said. "We monopolise the Port Moresby market, and there's a need for more. Some markets are telling me that they need 35 tonnes of mushrooms annually."
The technology behind mushroom production, known as Juncao, has been present in Papua New Guinea for nearly three decades. Despite its simplicity, involving shade houses constructed with local materials and continuous harvesting every three days from a single mushroom tube for several months, large-scale adoption has been limited. Lafanama noted that expanding production is essential if the market demand is to be met.
He called for further extension of the Juncao programme into the districts, now that a permanent demonstration base has been established in the provincial capital. "We need to have extension programs out there and make money available to our district and governor's offices so that our people can get into mushroom farming and grow it to an industrial level," he said.
According to Lafanama, sustained support from China has underpinned the project since its introduction, with contributions from Fujian Province and backing from project directors such as Prof Lin Zhanxi and Prof Lin Yingxing. He also noted the role of Eastern Highlands MP Simon Sia in advancing the initiative locally.
Farmers already using the technology have been able to supply to the limited market, but Lafanama stressed the need for broader adoption if mushroom production in Papua New Guinea is to reach industrial levels and satisfy domestic demand.
Source: Post-Courier