Ineza Mushrooms

INEZA was founded in 2021 to generate health and wealth in Rwanda by growing and selling mushroom kits and fresh mushrooms. The business was founded by a dynamic group of young people who saw the business as an opportunity to create employment, whilst increasing the provision of nutritious food to their community. They are located in Muhanga, Southern Province.

The team creates mushroom tubes or ‘kits’ from a combination of mycelium and substrate, which are then used to grow fresh mushrooms. Of the 800 – 2000 tubes they produce per month, over 60% are sold to local farmers, and the remaining 40% are retained for mushroom generation and sale.

INEZA is currently based in a few rooms of a small residential property where, remarkably, they are able to grow 50kg of mushrooms per month. They have big ambitions to increase their production, having already identified a new site for their business, with the hope of moving in the new year.

Their process relies heavily on the agricultural inputs that are used for the creation of a substrate, the vehicle in which mushrooms are grown. Historically, there has been a heavy reliance on cotton husks, which are imported from Tanzania. More recently, Rwandan innovators have been using coffee pulps and bean husks to supplement, reducing the costs of inputs and finding locally sourced, circular opportunities.

Cotton husks still form a necessary 50% of substrate creation, so business provision is significantly limited by a slow import supply – a smoother supply chain would allow better production and increased growth.

One area of supply that the team are managing for themselves is the need for mycelium. Currently provided through the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), they are now trying to develop a separate supply to feed their business for a lower cost, and potential sell to other mushroom growers.

They also see an opportunity for dried and processed mushrooms, with requests from potential customers as far afield as Kenya. The team hopes that investment in mushroom processing methods will enable them to reach new markets, whilst reducing waste from post-harvest loss.

INEZA is excited about working with the CIRF team to expand their circular practices. They have already received training in vermicompost and vermi-liquid production and were proud to show off their initial trials. Named the Zero Waste Management Project, they have been collecting household and organic waste from the local community, and they are excited to be transforming a waste product into a new income stream. 

The team expressed a strong commitment to support the government of Rwanda initiatives in reducing waste and negative environmental impact. They want to see improved soil health, better nutrition and the creation of jobs for young people.  

INEZA employs 3 full-time workers, and between 20-30 part-time workers throughout the year, as needed.