The Department of Agriculture (DA) is mass producing edible mushroom as demand for the protein-rich product can be developed while sustaining livelihood for many home based farmers in Malasique, Pangasinan.

Alice Ilaga, DA biotechnology program chief, said in a statement that new technologies have allowed for growing of mushrooms with little space and investment.

"The latest trend in agricultural innovation is just proof that Filipino farmers are now developing ways to explore products to alleviate poverty. This mushroom technology needs less open space. Mushrooms can be grown in enclosed indigenous structures and with minimal capital," she said.

The Biba-Diwa MultiPurpose Cooperative (BDMPC) in Malasique, Pangasinan has started managing a mushroom spawning facility which makes use of bamboos that enable harvest in just three weeks. Edible mushrooms also spawn on banana leaves and saw dust.

Aside from growing mushrooms, BDMPC has engaged in spawning abalone, oyster, and banana mushrooms, also called volvarela, in darkened enclosures.

Fernando Lopez, BDMPC chairman, said Pangasinan's mushroom farming is hoped to boost supply of mushroom in public markets not only in supermarkets where consumers can afford to buy higher priced products.

"People tend to develop a taste for a food item if aside from being a qualified delicacy, the supply is reliable and the cost is reasonable. More people can be encouraged to go into mushroom production on a larger scale if they can be convinced if the technology is cost-efficient," Lopez said.

Even students in Malasique, Pangasinan have started engaging in mushroom production.

The transfer of technology among high school students is quite unbelievable. We never thought that by word of mouth, this technology could spark interest among students to propagate mushrooms in the backyard," said Dr. Edmond Mendoza, BDMPC consultant.

Bayambang National High School students not only earn extra income now and help solve nutritional deficiency problems but also contribute to elimination of agricultural waste pollution.

BDMPC started mushroom growing with its members who are rice and corn farmers. One farmer has been able in one year to put up five breeding enclosures which are darkened to block sunlight for mushroom growth.
" I started growing mushrooms a year ago in just one small enclosure. Now I have several enclosures because the demand for edible mushrooms had increased and I have to continuously supply several stalls in the market," said Benigno Espinosa, barangay captain of Banaoang Malasigui.