Mushroom Spawns Hope

Ilocos is a potential mushroom growing region in the Philippines due to its favorable agro-climatic conditions and availability of agro-industrial wastes for growing tropical mushrooms like Volvariella volvacea, Pleurotus spp., Auricularia polytricha and Agrocybe aegerita (yanagi mushroom).

The Pangasinan State University conducted technical training on Mushroom Technology and shared the knowledge & skills to the stakeholders so that package of technology acquired would be utilized as a catalyst to establish a mushroom rural enterprise as a development strategy of PSU to alleviate poverty in the rural areas in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan.

One of the adapters, Ms. Evelyn Perico, former swine raiser and breeder who found hope in Mushroom Technology. She attended training on the Mushroom Livelihood Project conducted by Dr. Elisa Della and Dr. Cesar Della. When ASF struck the country, Ms. Perico’s livelihood was greatly affected. So she switched to Mushroom Production as another source of income. Now, mushroom production has become her main source of income.

One of the goals  of Pangasinan State University-Sta. Maria Campus is to Intensify the capability building/training of the adopters and the best practices to be radiated to the other impoverished municipalities of Pangasinan and other provinces in Region I.