A Zomba-based food scientist cum entrepreneur Rita Blessings Kumwenda is powering the country’s food future by producing oyster mushrooms.
Through her company, Parah Enterprises, Kumwenda has turned herself into a reliable supplier of mushrooms locally.
Since 2022, Parah Enterprises has worked to address food insecurity and promote sustainable farming, guided by the motto “Customer Satisfaction, Our Priority.”
Kumwenda said she decided to venture into oyster mushroom production after noticing its market potential.
“I did a proper market research which helped me to learn that the country largely imports mushrooms, which meant more customers for anyone producing it locally,” she said.
Using knowledge acquired from school, the food scientist set up Parah Enterprises which uses locally available resources to produce the product which is being sold under the brand “Malawian Biosecure Mushroom.”
“So, we are currently producing enough mushrooms to supply locally though we are still pushing for increased production to satisfy our market base,” said Kumwenda.
Parah Enterprises’ mushrooms are currently being sold in several stores in Zomba City and selected retail stores in the country’s main cities.
Apart from producing the mushrooms, Kumwenda has also started equipping farmers with knowledge on how they can venture into the initiative.
“Currently, I am training 100 farmers, most of them women on how they can earn a living through oyster mushroom production,” she added.
The government-run Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) has since awarded Parah Enterprises a grant to enable the company develop value-added products, including dried and packaged mushrooms for export.
