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| Laurent Demuynck |
Kigali Farms is the biggest producer and
distributer of fungi and fungal substrates (growth media) in the whole of
Rwanda. The business was set up in 2010
and produces substrate for the production of Oyster mushrooms, mushrooms and
fungal spawn (= fungal mass or mycelium- or the fungal hyphae from which the
mushroom fruiting bodies grow). 50
people work for the business – most of them in the production department.
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| Ariane Mukeshimana |
The team is led by the experienced bio-engineer
Ariane Mukeshimana. She is specialised
in mushroom cultivation, more specifically the production processes and
nutritional continuity. The production
of ‘fungal spawn’ is led by a locally trained specialist Pelagie Nyirandikumana
who has over 20 years work experience.
Together, with Laurent Demuynck, founder
and CEO of Kigali Farms, these two ladies will guide the successful
implementation of this project.
In this project, Kigali Farms will use its
expertise in the cultivation of saprotrophic species of mushrooms to see if they
can cultivate these new species and varieties of mushrooms which the APM have
discovered in the Rwandese forests.
Kigali Farms also have good international export contacts to
commercialise these promising species on a more global scale. Opening up new
global markets that will generate valuable export income for the Rwandese
economy.
In contrast to the saprotrophic species, the
mycorrhiza species (a fungal species that live in close relationship with its
host – in this case tree roots) cannot be cultivated without the tree species with
which they form a living symbiosis with. But there are some exceptions. The edible species – like chanterelles – are so proliferous in their natural habitat (expect
a harvest of up to 100 kg/hectare per year), that they are interesting from a commercial
point of view. They can be sustainably
harvested in their natural habitat without damaging the surface fruiting bodies
or the mycelium sheltering underground.
These fungi can be harvested without
damaging the mycelium (comparable to the harvesting of the fruit from an
(apple) tree). In this way, a regular
and sustainable harvest can be guaranteed.
In Burundi, mycorrhiza species are still a very common find in the open
forest. In Rwanda, this is no longer the
case because of agriculture and the uncontrolled production of charcoal. What will the future hold
for Rwanda? Based on the richness and diversity of its natural resources the
future for Rwanda and its people should be very good – but only time will tell!
More info : www.kigalifarms.com
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