Recently, a diverse group of 30 aspiring farmers gathered at the Juncao Mushroom Base at Cedara College of Agriculture for the first Chinese+Agriculture Training Short Course: Mushroom Production in 2026. This was not just a training session but a vibrant collaboration-a seed planted jointly by the Durban University of Technology Confucius Institute (DUT CI) and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture. Their shared mission is to cultivate both mushrooms and entrepreneurial spirit. Two DUT students, Ms Andiswa Mtshali and Mr Aphile Ngcobo, were participants in this training.
The curriculum covered the entire production value chain, from substrate preparation and hygiene to harvesting and value-added processing.
The facilitators, Mr Lungelo Dlamini and Ms Nontuthuko Mthembu, from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, shared their expertise on utilising mushroom farming as a tool for poverty alleviation and income generation. The key topics included inoculation theory, mycelium growth management, and various planting methods. Ms Mthembu presented on fruiting and harvesting, integrated pest and disease management, and the potential for value-added products.
The Director of DUT CI, Mr Lin Wu, was invited as a keynote speaker. Mr Wu introduced DUT CI’s Chinese partner university-Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) and presented a world-changing innovation from FAFU: Juncao technology, pioneered by the esteemed Professor Lin Zhanxi. This technology, which uses grass to grow mushrooms and produce livestock feed, was the engine behind their sustainable practices. Mr Wu also introduced the CI’s flagship project, the “Chinese+Agriculture Training and Entrepreneurship Project,” encouraging every young farmer present to consider diving deeper. He spoke of gaining a firsthand understanding of China’s remarkable agricultural advancements and the vast opportunities that await.
By the end of the course, all the participants saw a clear path: from applying Juncao techniques on their own plots, to potentially improving their businesses within a structured, supportive framework, and possibly moving towards a future where their produce reaches international shores. The training course, a fruitful synergy between DUT CI and KZN Agriculture, had done more than teach mushroom cultivation; it had planted the spores of ambition, connection, and global entrepreneurial thinking.
“The training provided a holistic, practical approach to mushroom farming. I gained essential skills in substrate sterilization and hygiene, critical for high yields and preventing crop failure. This training has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to start my own mushroom enterprise and pursue my dream of becoming an agripreneur,” said Mtshali.
“It is my pleasure to participate in this training course. The programme was an overall success and effectively catered to trainees from diverse educational and experiential backgrounds. The strong emphasis on practical, hands-on training greatly benefited those with no prior experience in mushroom cultivation. I am grateful for this opportunity and feel empowered,” said Ngcobo.
“I hope all the participants can master this method and therefore open a new gateway to change their lives through this sustainable agricultural technology,” said Mr Wu.
Pictured: The Director of DUT CI, Mr Lin Wu with DUT students receiving their certificates.
STAR CHEN
