Kigali, July 21, 2025

— In the heart of Rwanda’s Southern Province, Busasamana Technical School is pioneering a sustainable approach to school nutrition by cultivating mushrooms through Juncao technology—a low-cost, eco-friendly farming method. The initiative seeks to bolster the country’s school feeding program, which plays a vital role in reducing child hunger and improving access to education.

Led by physics teacher and school feeding coordinator, Alice Allouette Marie Munyurabanga, the school’s mushroom venture was inspired by her participation in an international training workshop on Juncao applications, held in Huye District. Supported by the UN and China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, the workshop welcomed 57 participants from five African countries, highlighting Juncao’s use in mushroom farming, livestock feed, and ecological restoration.

“Mushroom cultivation presents new opportunities to improve the meals we provide, particularly for those whose families struggle financially,” Munyurabanga said. “With the knowledge I’ve gained, I’ll help produce enough mushrooms for our students.”

Juncao—a hybrid grass technology first developed in the 1980s—is increasingly recognized for its role in supporting food security, thanks to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. Busasamana Technical School now plans to cultivate its own Juncao grass to produce substrate for mushroom farming, making the program self-sustaining.

Currently, mushrooms feature in the school’s menu at least twice a week, offering a nutritious supplement that also helps bridge financial gaps in parental contributions. The goal, Munyurabanga explains, is to turn the school into a demonstration hub, guiding other institutions on mushroom cultivation, substrate preparation, and integration into daily meals.

Chen Xiaobin, an agricultural expert at the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, expressed intent to organize future workshops targeted at schools. These would support Rwanda’s national feeding strategy and extend the benefits of Juncao technology more widely.

🌾 As Rwanda navigates its nutritional and educational challenges, innovations like Juncao mushroom farming could provide replicable solutions across the region—blending science, sustainability, and social impact in the classroom