Inspiring the Next Generation: Nyaruhanga High School Students Visit Our Mushroom Training Facility

 On a bright and inspiring day, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of enthusiastic students from Nyaruhanga High School at the Mushroom Training and Resource Center (MTRC). This educational visit was part of our community outreach and youth empowerment program aimed at introducing young people to agribusiness opportunities through hands-on training in mushroom cultivation.

Nyaruhanga High School students posing for a group photo in front of our offices

A Journey into the World of Fungi

The visit began with a warm welcome from our team, followed by an interactive session where the students were introduced to:

  • The basics of mushroom cultivation, including types of mushrooms suitable for local climates and markets, with a key focus on oyster mushrooms.
  • Understanding the mushroom value chain – from spawn production, substrate preparation, and inoculation to harvesting and marketing.
  • A practical demonstration on how to prepare substrates using readily available materials like cotton waste, sawdust, and straw.
Nyaruhanga High school students undergoing theory training in our training hall

 Hands-On Experience

Students were then guided through:

  • Substrate sterilization and packaging – learning how to maintain hygiene and optimal conditions for successful cultivation.
  • Inoculation of spawn – where they practiced inserting mushroom spawn into prepared substrate bags.
  • A tour of our dark room and grow rooms, allowing them to see live mushroom gardens in different growth stages, from mycelium colonization to fruiting.

They also participated in a Q&A session where our trainers responded to their curious and insightful questions regarding climate adaptation, income potential, and sustainability in mushroom farming.

Out trainer taking the students through the basics of oyster mushroom cultivation

 What They Learned

By the end of the visit, students had gained:

  • An appreciation of mushroom farming as a viable agribusiness venture.
  • Awareness of the nutritional and medicinal value of mushrooms.
  • Exposure to innovative agriculture techniques that require low land use and minimal capital investment.
  • Insights into entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities through agriculture.
The students being taken through a site tour of our facility

A Partnership for the Future

We commend Nyaruhanga High School for its commitment to equipping learners with practical life skills beyond the classroom. Such visits not only empower students but also align with our vision of building a skilled and self-reliant generation through sustainable agriculture.

At MTRC, we believe that the future of agriculture lies in the hands of young innovators. We are proud to play a role in shaping that future—one student at a time.

Students having a glimpse of our demonstration farm

Interested in arranging a school visit or group training?
 Contact us at +256 772658883
 Email: mushroommtrc@gmail.com

Mushroom Training and Resource Center – Growing Skills, Growing Lives. 

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