The Chinese government has allocated M3 million to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to embark on production of mushrooms (khoaeane) at Masianokeng in Maseru.

The Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho disclosed that the project is expected to be launched at the end of this month.

Mr. Qiu Bohua told LENA that agricultural experts from China arrived in the country in September to demonstrate to people around the Masianokeng area on how to grow mushrooms.

Mr. Bohua added that mushrooms cultivation follows a research made by the former Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Rakoro Phororo, who found out that mushroom, could successfully grow in the country and it is one of the selling crops locally and internationally.

He said the project is intended for poverty reduction, and that it will run as long as it is sustainable.

The Chief Crops Production Officer responsible for Horticulture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security confirmed that mushroom production is under process in the laboratory in Masianokeng.

Ms. Limakatso Makoae said mushroom is one of the high value crops, which could boost the country's economy as it will be sold to the international market.

She said the mushrooms to be produced are different from the ones that are called (koae-ea-lekhoaba), which are poisonous and found in abundance in different parts of the country.

Apart from these eatable mushrooms, garlic and asparagus are other crops of high value produced in Butha-Buthe and Maseru.

Source: LENA 01/11/2007