A recent visit by MUSH-FA Secretariat to Rory’s Holy Shiitake facility in Honeydew, Johannesburg, has been hailed as an eye opener for the mushroom industry.

Sydney Katunga Phiri, the Program Manager for MUSH-FA International’s HQ based in South Africa, took some time off to visit a mushroom producing plant that combines edible and medicinal mushrooms, to compliment what can be described as a modest modern mushroom factory, which has a great potential for replication across the continent.

“We need such facilities in the continent”, commented William Darko, CEO and founding member of MUSH-FA from Sierra Leone where he is conducting field training.

“MUSH-FA International’s quest for funding in areas of infrastructural development in the sector is vital at this stage, as we enter the African Union’s next phase of CAADP ( Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program) called the CAADP Kampala Declaration “, said the CEO.

The phase which is a 10- year long plan, has six strategic objectives. These objectives continue from the previous one, called the Malabo Declaration, which had seven strategic goals.

According to Index info, African mushroom market was valued at $153 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $225 million by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%. In terms of volume, the market is projected to reach 62,000 tons by 2035, with a CAGR of 3.0% from 2024 to 2035.

Market Breakdown:

• South Africa: Led the market in 2024 with a value of $109 million, accounting for a significant share of the African mushroom market.
• Morocco: Ranked second in the market, with a value of $11 million in 2024.
• Algeria: Also a notable player in the African mushroom market.

Key Trends:

• Increasing demand for mushrooms and truffles in Africa, driving market growth.
• Rising imports of mushrooms, with Morocco being the largest importer, accounting for 49% of total imports.
• Growing production of mushrooms, with South Africa being the largest producer, accounting for 79% of total volume ¹.