Humble Mushroom Spurs Rural Transformation and Crane Conservation in Uganda
A once-overlooked crop is now at the center of a conservation and community transformation story in Uganda. The oyster mushroom, introduced through a conservation initiative by the International Crane Foundation (ICF), is helping protect endangered Grey Crowned Cranes while boosting rural incomes and transforming lives in the Rukiga District.
Faced with rising wetland encroachment and habitat destruction, the Foundation sought an innovative solution. The problem: subsistence farmers were turning to wetlands to expand farmland in a region where traditional crops like sorghum and beans take months to mature and bring in limited income. The solution: mushrooms—fast-growing, high-value, and environmentally sustainable.
“What if these communities could adopt alternative livelihoods that generated better income while reducing pressure on wetlands?” asked Patrick Engoru, ICF’s Uganda Country Manager.
ICF launched the pilot in July 2024, partnering with three local farming groups. Initial skepticism was high. Tumuhimbise Kedress, a member of Rwempango Tukwataniise, recalls being laughed at by villagers when she began visiting the mushroom growing site. That doubt has since faded.
For just $31 worth of mushroom spawn, farmers are now earning over $125 within three months, more than twice the returns from a sorghum crop in half the time. Beyond finances, the initiative has empowered women, improved food security, and given new hope to families.
“It has done me wonders and miracles,” said Vanansio, a retired teacher. “My dream is to make my children finish school from good schools.”
Women like Ellen, a widow, now feed their families and renovate their homes. Other community members are dreaming bigger—some even plan to start women’s groups to support local entrepreneurship.
Mushrooms have also gained cultural acceptance. Once unfamiliar, they are now praised for their nutritional value and versatility in local dishes such as katogo, a Ugandan stew. The switch has not only saved on meat expenses but also offered a sustainable food alternative.
Environmentally, the benefits are equally striking. Sorghum husks, once burned as waste, are repurposed as growing material. Although firewood is still used in cooking, the pressure on wetlands has decreased. In areas where mushrooms are cultivated, ICF has documented reduced wetland encroachment, improving water quality and supporting crane habitats.
“This is just one way the International Crane Foundation’s conservation model partners with communities to improve incomes, enhance food security, empower women, and protect the Endangered Grey Crowned Crane,” said Engoru.
