Nigerian Mushroom Startup Expands to Rwanda, Eyes East African Market

News in Brief:

— Eti Farms Global, a Nigerian edible mushroom startup, has expanded into Rwanda to build a wider African market.

— The move could create new opportunities for partnerships and eventually position mushrooms as a Nigerian agricultural export.

Nigerian edible mushroom company Eti Farms Global Limited is now officially incorporated in Rwanda, a move its founder and CEO, Etimbuk Imuk, says is part of a broader plan to build an African mushroom enterprise.

Imuk announced the development on X, describing Rwanda as an exciting platform for the company's expansion. Eti Farms Global, built around sustainability and innovation, gets the opportunity to grow its presence in the East African market.

The expansion comes several years after Imuk turned a childhood experience with mushrooms into an agribusiness opportunity.

According to an earlier interview with The Junction, Imuk became familiar with edible mushrooms while growing up with severe asthma. Her parents struggled with the cost of her medication, and a doctor recommended incorporating mushrooms into her diet. Her family began experimenting with mushrooms, eventually growing them on a fallen mango tree.

The experience made mushrooms a regular part of her diet and later influenced her decision to build a business around their production and distribution.

From Nigerian Mushroom Farm to African Enterprise

Imuk said she also identified a supply gap among Nigerians who needed or preferred mushroom diets. This includes people seeking healthier food options, vegetarians, vegans and consumers trying to reduce meat consumption.

That opportunity led to the establishment of Eti Farms Global. The company focuses on cultivating, processing and distributing edible mushrooms. Imuk's goal is to make them available year-round.

The company has previously received financial support to develop its operations. In November 2021, Tingo Mobile awarded Eti Farms Global a ₦600,000 grant, and the company received a ₦5 million Lagos Agrinnovation grant in 2024.

Its incorporation in Rwanda could now provide access to new customers and partnerships, particularly with restaurants, supermarkets and food businesses across East Africa.

For Nigeria's growing agribusiness sector, the development also raises a broader question: could mushrooms become a more prominent Nigerian agricultural export as local producers expand production, processing and access to international markets?

If Eti Farms Global's regional expansion succeeds, it ser an example on how Nigerian agribusinesses can move beyond domestic production into Africa's wider food market.