25 Kibwe/Kingalu Road, Forest Hill Area, P.O. Box 6053, 67109 Morogoro, Tanzania eamcef@easternarc.or.tz

Mushroom Farming in Mbeta Empowers Women and Revives Uluguru Forest

Mushroom farming in Mbeta is transforming lives and landscapes at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro Municipality. For years, women in the village of Mbeta relied on forest-based activities like firewood collection and pebble crushing from mountain streams—strenuous labor that earned little income while degrading the environment.

To change this, the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund (EAMCEF), in partnership with Morogoro Municipal Council and Agriwezesha, introduced mushroom farming in Mbeta as a sustainable alternative. The newly formed Tujikwamue group of women received training, mushroom seeds, growing sheds, and hygiene supplies. Though initially unfamiliar with the practice, the women quickly adapted and embraced the opportunity.

Their first mushroom harvest matured in just 15 to 25 days and earned over TZS 200,000 within the first four months. The women proudly showcased their produce at the Nanenane Exhibition, offered financial assistance to fellow members, and covered their children’s school fees and basic needs—all through mushroom farming in Mbeta. The shift also brought healthier food to their tables and sparked environmental awareness within their families.

Unlike former practices that depleted the forest, mushroom farming in Mbeta relies on rice straw, preserving the Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve. The success of the Tujikwamue group has inspired neighboring villages, contributing to a combined revenue of TZS 3.05 million from mushroom production across the region.

Thanks to mushroom farming in Mbeta, women have broken free from poverty, restored dignity to their work, and become champions of environmental conservation. Their journey marks a powerful intersection of sustainable development, gender empowerment, and forest protection.

Story Details

  • Location:
    Mbeta Village, Morogoro Municipal
  • District Surrounding Forest:
    Uluguru Nature Forest Reserve

KEY DATA

  • 6 groups were formed.
  • 60 villages benefited.
  • 60 community members were involved.
  • 12,800 kg of mushrooms were harvested.
  • 120 kg of mushroom seeds were provided.
  • TZS 128 million in income was generated.

I am truly grateful for this mushroom farming project. The money we earned allowed me to start a banana business. Since then, I have been able to buy school bags and notebooks for my children and pay for their extra tuition. I pay 2,000 shillings weekly for my Form Four child and 2,000 shillings monthly for my fourth grade child, and their performance has improved. This project has significantly boosted our income.

Asha Eliyuko

We are thankful for the mushroom farming project. We have worked hard, produced, sold, and shared the earnings. I used the money to build a new stove because I previously had an inefficient stove that consumed a lot of firewood. With the new stove, we use less firewood, which helps protect the environment. I have completely abandoned the old stove that used a lot of firewood.

Sikudhani Mustafa

The money we received from the project has personally helped me pay for my child’s Form Four tuition, and they have performed well. I have also been able to buy them a uniform, school bags, and notebooks, and have enrolled them in school to continue their education.

Upendo Joshua Mollel

Thanks to the training I received, I started my mushroom farm and earned 100,000 shillings in six months. Mushroom farming has allowed me to stay home with my family and protect the environment, as it eliminates the need to collect stones from the river. The community sees our progress, and we’re proud to provide nutritious food for our children, promoting their health and potentially inspiring future generations. This work is creating a better, more sustainable future..

Zena Feruzi

I am very grateful for this project, as it has enabled me to earn money to build an improved stove at home. Before the improved stove, I used a three-stone stove that consumed a lot of firewood. However, after receiving the project funds, I built a more efficient stove that uses much less firewood.

Tausi Mussa, member

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