Mushroom farming no easy feat, says Grower
CEBU, Philippines — An experienced mushroom grower in Sirao, Cebu City has shed
light on the realities of mushroom cultivation, debunking the common belief that it is an
easy livelihood to pursue as it requires precision, dedication, and proper environmental
conditions.
This perspective comes as the Cebu City government’s executive department and
Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. have expressed differing views on the viability of the
mushroom cultivation program of the Cebu City government.
Yesterday, April 8, 2025, The Freeman visited Whistling Swine Farm in Sirao, Cebu City,
where mushroom cultivation has become a primary source of livelihood.
Connie Carey, who runs the farm alongside her husband, shared their journey into the
business, which began when they decided to revive an idle farm and transform it into a
thriving mushroom-growing venture.
“I think the biggest misconception is that it’s easy and that everyone can just do it. It
really takes a lot of effort and time,” Carey told The Freeman.. .
Recalling their beginnings, Carey said they chose mushroom farming because it doesn’t
require a lot of space and therefore doesn’t need a large plot of land.
Despite this, Carey emphasized that there are many considerations when one ventures
into mushroom farming. Each “tedious” process of mushroom cultivation requires a
person at each station.
One important step is selecting an area that is cool enough, as mushrooms will not grow
in hot temperatures. According to Carey, mushroom farming requires 70 to 90 percent
humidity.
“You cannot have it too wet either. You really have to be careful. You need to have a
climate-controlled area. It’s so hasul than baboy (taking care of livestock),” said Carey.
She added that it requires a lot of attention and precision, including several waves of
sterilization to ensure that the area is clean.
Carey emphasized that even the slightest mistake can lead to contamination, preventing
the mushrooms from growing.
When cultivating mushrooms, Carey also explained that it involves a long and very
“tedious” process that requires a great deal of patience.
The process begins with bagging the sawdust, which includes refined hardwood
remnants that are dried and mixed with lime, molasses, and husks of cereal grains. She
further explained that they also use a tablet of Kremil-S to ensure the acidity levels are
correct.
After this, Carey said they have to wait a week before the actual bagging. The bags are
then pasteurized, a process that involves placing the sawdust bags in a barrel of boiling
water for eight hours. This is followed by germination, which is also an entirely different
process.
She explained that germination includes incorporating sorghum seeds, which must be
steamed.
After this, the mushroom seeds are finally planted in the spawn. Currently, she added,
they cannot produce their own spawn yet as they still do not have a laboratory for this,
so they purchase it from Nueva Ecija.
Carey further explained that they must wait another three weeks until the spawn turns
white before the actual planting of the mushroom seeds can begin.
“You don’t have to hang it immediately in the ramification room; you have to let the bag
turn all white,” said Carey.
After the hanging, which is the final stage of the process, the fruiting bag will bear
mushrooms for about two months. In total, the process takes about two months.
The fruiting bags, where the mushrooms are hung, are stored in a room with a
thermostat to control the climate.
“It’s not your typical, ‘just plant and leave it alone.’ I would really say that it really needs
a surgical process,” said Carey.
She further mentioned that even after the mushrooms are hung, they have to
meticulously monitor each bag and check the temperature regularly. Carey also said
they consult an expert to be fully guided through the process.
She stressed that mushrooms can be contaminated if they are exposed to too much air,
not properly sterilized, or if the room is too hot. She also highlighted that the room
should have only limited access to light.
“You need to have an area, let’s say an unused room, maybe a basement, but you have
to check the temperature to make sure it’s within 25 to 30 degrees,” said Carey.
It can be recalled that the Cebu City Council conducted an executive session to discuss
the city’s livelihood program, particularly on mushroom cultivation. Archival, who led the
probe, said he believes the program is a form of “vote-buying.”
Archival, who is said to be a mushroom grower himself, stated that the program is
“bound to fail,” stressing that merely providing the seed capital without further instruction
on how to utilize the P4,000 is not viable.
According to him, the placement of the mushrooms, with some just hung on walls and in
open spaces, is not effective as it is prone to contamination by dust. Archival also
mentioned that the DWUP has already distributed P20 million worth of seed capital.
Catherine Maderazo Trapzi, Project Evaluation Officer III of DWUP, appeared before the
city council during an executive session and emphasized that since the creation of
DWUP, the Livelihood Program has existed. She further outlined that their existing
programs are backed by legal provisions as mandated by law.
On the mushroom cultivation program, she revealed that they have aligned this
assistance to fit with the urban landscape of Cebu City.
Carey, on the other hand, who underwent multiple studies and research, said that if the
city insists on nurturing mushroom cultivation as a livelihood program, “it will not work”
unless climate-controlled rooms are provided to the beneficiaries.
While she acknowledged that the mushroom market in Cebu City has high demand, she
believes that the Livelihood Program conducted by the city on mushroom cultivation can
still succeed if an expert intervenes. —