Nebbi youth association profits from mushroom growing

A group of youth in Nebbi Town has started to realise the benefits of a mushroom growing project they started in 2011. The two year-old project has been steadily progressing through the support from local communities in Pubidhi where it is located.

Facing unemployment yet they had completed their studies at various institutions of higher learning, the 30 young graduates mobilised Shs800,000 to start their Eden Trust Mushroom Growers Association.
They said the capital was raised through contributions by members who showed commitment to the project.
The managing director, Mr Christopher Agenorwoth, says the aim was to empower unemployed youths through income generation activities.

“Our motivation is that there is ready market, which has given us morale to expand to DR Congo and neighbouring districts; Zombo and Arua,” he added.
Last year, the association made a profit of Shs400,000 after deduction of the cost. Fred Wod Lol, the sales manager, says they are selling products at subsidised prices to attract more customers and keep them in case their competitors come in. But the focus is also on the larger market in West Nile region.

Challenges
However, there are limited funds to support this. The youth group needs about Shs10m to support expansion as well acquire a machine for seed production, which costs about Shs2m to install. Currently, they buy mushroom seeds from Uganda Mushroom Growers Association at Shs30,000 per kilo, which increase their costs. Also, the site also lacks piped water since it is far from town but they make use of River Namthin, which is closer.

Support
The association intends to get some funding from Nebbi Town Council to strengthen their operations. The acting community development officer, Mr Peter Kerunega, says they will benefit from Community Demand Driven (CDD) funds since they have showed commitment in their project, which will be an eye opener to the other youths who are unemployed in the district.