Amira, an ambitious young Syrian woman from the Damascus countryside, grew up in a simple agricultural environment and completed her secondary education. She was a housewife before taking her first steps in the world of specialized agriculture, specifically mushroom cultivation.
Her journey began in 2015, when she saw an advertisement for a training course in mushroom cultivation, a completely new concept in Syria at the time.
Amira told Zaman Al-Wasl that her love of agriculture and her desire to be an active woman in her community motivated her to take on this challenge. After studying the basic requirements for mushroom cultivation—such as securing an isolated location and providing energy sources to control temperature and humidity—she began her project in 2016, growing oyster mushrooms in a small, modest area.
Oyster mushrooms are a genus of gilled fungi (Pleurotus). They are considered one of the most widely cultivated edible mushrooms in the world.
Overcoming Difficulties
Ameera faced many difficulties, but she didn't give up. She learned from experience, studied the diseases that affect mushrooms, and says she tried several methods until she was able to produce them for the first time. The mushrooms tasted delicious, but it didn't taste as good as the success she experienced.
With the support of her family and team, and with determination to achieve her goals, Ameera reached a production rate of 2 tons per month, although the full production capacity has not yet been fully invested. The project's current area is 500 square meters, and it is expandable.
She noted that her project does not consume large amounts of water, as each square meter requires only one liter of water, and produces approximately 25 kg of mushrooms in a two-month cultivation cycle.
The room is then washed and sterilized to apply a new mixture. She explained that the room covers approximately 65 square meters, with a height of 10 meters. 3-5 PM.
Benefits of Mushrooms
In the coming years, Amira aspires to achieve a continuous production cycle to meet local market demand and export the surplus, ensuring no shortage of mushrooms. She also seeks to train young people and women in mushroom cultivation, empowering them economically and socially, contributing to improving living standards and creating new job opportunities.
In addition, Amira seeks to spread health awareness about the benefits of mushrooms, given their significant medicinal properties. They reduce fat, fight tumors and viruses, regulate blood pressure, and strengthen immunity. In doing so, she hopes to contribute to building a healthier and more independent society through a health, environmental, and sustainable project.
Faris Al-Rifai - Zaman Al-Wasl
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