Polikarpova Yu.O., Cand. Phil. Sc., Assoc. Prof. The article considers the potential of mushroom cultivation in Ukraine

The article considers the potential of mushroom cultivation in Ukraine. Its main benefits for small businesses and, local community are demonstrated. Some strategies for successful and sustainable mushroom trade are suggested.

У статті розглянуто потенціал розвитку бізнесу, пов’язаного з вирощуванням грибів, в Україні. Продемонстровано його основні переваги як для малого бізнесу, так і для міських громад. Запропоновано деякі стратегії для успішної реалізації грибів.

Relevance of the research. Mushroom cultivation in the world is becoming more popular. The leader is China where over 8 mln ton of mushrooms are grown every year. In the USA this figure is about 410,000 tons, in Poland – 350,000 tons, in France – 240,000 tonns, in Holland – 220,000, etc. According to the latest data in Ukraine only 45,000 tons of mushrooms are grown every year. Moreover, mushroom consumption in the developed counties is about 4 kg a year per capita, in Ukraine it's not more than 0,5-0,7 kg. This means that there is a good market for mushrooms in our country which has to be supplied with good quality mushrooms.

The objective of this research is to outline opportunities of small business development by means of growing mushrooms

As a result of our research it was the following advantages of cultivating mushrooms have been determined:

- requires minimal physical and financial inputs and resources;

- can be operated in rural and urban areas without land use;

- provides additional employment and income for people;

- can be cultivated on both a small and large scale;

- can be cultivated on a part-time basis;

- requires little maintenance;

- work isn't hard and can be done by older people, women, people in poor health or with physical and mental disabilities;

- highly productive and fast yielding;

- mushroom substrate can be prepared from any clean agricultural waste material, and mushrooms can be produced in temporary clean shelters investment;

- mushrooms can be sold fresh, pickled, frozen or dried, etc.

Moreover, mushroom cultivation is very beneficial for the local community and can help in the following:

- reducing vulnerability to poverty and shocks;

- strengthening livelihoods (nutritious source of food and a reliable source of income);

- improving the sustainability of small farming systems (recycling of organic matter, which can be used as a growing substrate, and then returned to the land as fertilizer);

- generating additional employment and income through local, regional and national trade;

- offering opportunities for processing enterprises;

- guaranteeing food security and consumption of healthy food, etc.

Strategies for successful and sustainable mushroom trade should include:

1) Analyze market demand to correlate volume and prices.

2) Explore various marketing options for fresh mushrooms (selling directly to local customers, local traders, markets, intermediaries, regional wholesalers, local restaurants, shops or farmer cooperatives, etc.).

3) Diversify the variety of mushrooms cultivated.

4) Add value and increase the shelf-life of the mushrooms by creating processed products (including dried or pickled mushrooms, sauces, teas, extracts, etc.).

5) Co-operate with other producers to share knowledge and experiences.

6) Reduce initial capital investment by recycling pieces of equipment and sourcing locally, and sharing costs through informal or formal groupings.

7) Identify existing markets and trading routes, and identify any niches to be filled (for example, organic mushrooms, fair trade or cooperative produce).

8) Establish a good relationship with a buyer by delivering a reliable quality and quantity of products.

9) Carefully manage the method of storage and presentation of mushrooms at the point of sale.

10) Label your products as ‘fresh’ and ‘grown under controlled conditions’ (only if it is true).

11) Take into account that successful marketing strategies differ according to region, transport infrastructure, market accessibility and consumer preferences.

Conclusion. Mushroom cultivation can directly improve livelihoods through economic, nutritional and medicinal contributions.