KOTA BARU: It’s a mushrooming business – literally!
A group of Muslim converts are generating healthy income by cultivating white oyster mushrooms since October last year.
The Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) Kelantan branch has become the first centre of Muslim converts in the country to do so.
Its chairman, Dr Johari Yap Abdullah (pic), said the centre has two units of smart mushroom houses using the Imistroom system, with a maximum capacity of 10,000 blocks, capable of yielding 3,000kg per season.
He said that smart mushroom houses use the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and were built at a cost of RM30,000 each.
“Mushroom sales and marketing activities are managed by Koperasi Macma Kelantan Berhad, and the profit from sales will also be enjoyed by members of the cooperative who are also members of Kelantan Macma,” he told Bernama recently.
He also said that the white oyster mushroom cultivation project is very simple and is managed with the 2T (tinggal [leave] and tuai [harvest]) concept only.
“A total of 15 committee members and ordinary (members) are directly involved in this project.
“They are given training on how to manage mushroom cultivation, in addition to getting paid for related work such as picking, packing, delivering to the store and cleaning the mushroom houses,” he said.
He added that white oyster mushrooms cultivated by Kelantan Macma are sold at RM16 per kg.
“Apart from selling directly to retailers, our members also produce downstream products such as fried white oyster mushrooms, serunding and pekasam,” he said.
