Established in 2014, DEYI Ltd is a mushroom tube business that focuses on production, farming, and processing of mushrooms into powder and other dried forms. In doing this, DEYI Ltd aims to enhance food and nutrition security through its products while also supporting mushroom farmers with reliable market opportunities. With 21 employees (12 women and 9 men) it operates in the city of Kigali and surrounding Gasabo District.

Scaling Up Mushroom and Vegetable Production for Value-add Products for the Domestic Market

In this 15-month project that started in September 2024, DEYI Ltd is establishing a modern processing unit to produce and supply high-quality, nutritious instant soups and mushroom powders. The business model includes mushroom tube production, mushroom farming, and processing mushrooms into various forms to mitigate post-harvest losses and enhance food security. These products are being enriched with additional vegetables and dried small fish (isambaza) from Lake Kivu. DEYI Ltd aims to ensure a reliable market for mushroom farmers, encouraging professionals to participate and to increase production. The project expects to reach 3,500 smallholder farmers, with each projected to earn £234 annually in additional income.

With a total cost of £128,580 (£55,855 from CASA), the project includes technical assistance for development of a business plan; company management systems; and a transformational environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework to enhance climate change adaptation. Also included are the required analysis for mushroom processing competencies for value addition to meet certification requirements; development and testing of a contract farming-based mushroom outgrower model; training of lead mushroom producers in eco-friendly and business-oriented mushroom farming, marketing systems, strategies, plans, tools, and materials development; and support for the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of processing and packaging equipment. 

DEYI Ltd plans to engage more professional businesses to develop a larger distribution of partnerships for the commercialisation of its products. Through this engagement, additional investment will ensure the procurement of the required equipment and materials for complying with distributors’ requirements.