Mushroom is a nutritious source of vegetarian food. It is a major horticulture product all over the world and is becoming popular in Nigeria. Mushrooms are a natural product with many nutritional and medicinal advantages. 

Mushrooms are good as nutritious food for all ages and under all conditions of health. They are cholesterol free and in its place ergo-sterol is present which gets converted to vitamin D by the human body and contain virtually no fat or sodium. 

Mushrooms supply dietary fibre and are a good source of several important vitamins B and C such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid. Mushrooms are rich in good quality proteins with lysine and tryptophan that are normally deficient in cereals. 

The carbohydrates in the mushrooms are at a level of four point five to five percent (4.5 to 5%) but are in the form of glycogen, chitin and hemicellulose instead of starch. The fat content is as low as zero point three percent (0.3 %) but is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid.

Medicinal mushrooms are tiny fungi that are used for their medicinal benefits. Vitamin B, vitamin D, amino acids, calcium, potassium, and fibre are all abundant in medicinal mushrooms. These nutrients are essential for increasing antioxidant activity and lowering free radical levels in the body. They're employed in a variety of extraction procedures, including as powder, capsules, fluids, and others.

The medicinal mushrooms are known for their cure for seasonal allergies, common cold, inflammations, alleviating asthma and bronchitis and boost the functioning of the nervous system.

The global market for medicinal mushrooms is expected to grow 6,870.7 million at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) eight point nine percent (8.9%) during the forecast 2021-2030. The market for medicinal mushrooms is expanding due to the rising prevalence of health problems across the world. With the emergence of medicinal mushrooms, the market growth is driven by an increased desire for functional foods among the majority of health-conscious consumers. 

Another significant factor flourishing the market growth rate include the high utilization of medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of common cold, inflammation, seasonal allergies, bronchitis and asthma. 

Furthermore, advent of private-labelled brands and the rise in the number of applications in various end-use industries such as cosmetics, healthcare and food and beverages are the major drivers that will cushion the market’s growth rate.

Moreover, the rise in the research and development activities and increasing adoption of vegan food due to its health prompting benefits will boost the opportunities for the growth of medicinal mushroom market.

However, the lack of adequate manufacturing skills creates a gap between demand and supply, which will hamper the market growth rate. Also, the low shelf life of the product and environments factors will challenge the medicinal mushroom market.

Chaga, cordyceps, shiitake, turkey tail and reishi are some of the types of common medicinal mushrooms widely used in all parts of the world. These medicinal fungi are microscopic fungi that are gaining momentum due to their health-promoting abilities.

Mushrooms are in either fresh, dried, canned or pick form and majority of the canned mushroom in Nigeria are imported. 

The price per kilogram of fresh mushroom varies depending on the species but the prevailing market price of fresh oyster (pleurotus pulmonarius) edible mushroom ranges from three thousand to three thousand, five hundred naira (₦ 3,000 - ₦ 3,500).