Mushroom Farming: A Potential Tool for Nutritional Security and Income Generation in Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose: The main goal of this review is to examine the medicinal benefits, profitable cultivation, environmental factors, pest management, mushroom growth, quality, and industry development of mushrooms in Bangladesh. The study also focuses on the health-promoting effects of mushrooms and their role as a valuable food source. Research Method: This review is prepared using available scientific literature obtained from Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Journals, Books, and Google Scholar. The selected studies covered topics concerning mushroom cultivation, environmental impacts, pest challenges, medicinal properties, and health benefits of mushrooms. Findings and Values: Mushrooms offer numerous health benefits, including anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-helminthic properties. They are also rich in essential nutrients like carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, and magnesium. The mushroom industry in Bangladesh is characterized by its efficient use of resources, low investment costs, and innovation potential, making it a profitable and sustainable enterprise. Environmental factors greatly influence mushroom yield and quality, while pest infestations by flies, mites, ants, and cockroaches pose major challenges. Farmers often rely on costly control measures, which incur high expenses and low profits. The review literature highlights mushrooms as both a nutrient-rich functional food with diverse medicinal benefits and a profitable, resource-efficient industry in Bangladesh, while also identifying environmental and pest challenges that affect sustainability.