Climate Change Puts Eastern Mushroom Cooperative in Crisis

By Elizabeth Kucherera

Fear has gripped the Eastern Mushroom Cooperative as climate change continues to wreak havoc on their once-thriving mushroom farming operations. The cooperative, based in Manicaland Province, is facing plummeting production levels due to excessive heat and disease outbreaks, leaving their future in jeopardy.

The cooperative’s chief cashier, Ella Madzianike, revealed that production has dropped drastically. “During October, when temperatures were somewhat favorable, we harvested 1,040 grow bags of oyster mushrooms per room. Each bag weighed 3 kilograms and sold for $1, giving us $1,040 per room,” she said.

In a bid to expand, the cooperative added three more growing rooms, hoping to quadruple their production to 4,080 bags. However, those ambitions have been crushed by rising temperatures and a growing threat of heat-related diseases, such as black mold, which attacks the mushrooms.

“High temperatures have slashed our output to less than 500 bags per room,” Madzianike lamented. “Black mold spreads quickly, and once it infects a few mushrooms, we’re often forced to discard entire batches to save the rest.”

The cooperative’s challenges mirror the broader impact of climate shocks in Manicaland Province, where extreme heat and fluctuating temperatures have heavily affected agricultural yields.

To counter these challenges, the Eastern Mushroom Cooperative is appealing for assistance. They are calling for better air vents and ceilings to regulate temperatures inside their growing rooms and create a more conducive environment for mushroom farming.

“We are determined to fight back against these climate challenges,” said Madzianike. “But we need support to ensure we can continue to feed our families and sustain this business.”

As the effects of climate change intensify, the cooperative’s story underscores the urgent need for climate resilience strategies to protect small-scale agricultural ventures in Zimbabwe and beyond.