Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kelantan branch has opened a new chapter on mushroom cultivation using the modular smart mushroom house, namely the iMistroom 2000 system, to produce white oyster mushrooms.

This is in line with the government’s efforts to ensure food security and the project is housed in UiTM’s Machang campus and it is headed by the Internet of Things (IoT) mushroom research group at present.

The method developed between iMistroom and IoT would not only increase the production of mushrooms up to twice as compared to normal methods but also help students and the local community to generate incomes.

Contemporary mushroom houses that incorporate this IoT system can provide more inclusive environmental control, cost effective design and selection of building materials as well as easier maintenance processes.

A total of 2,000 blocks of white oyster mushrooms could be put in the incubator where each block can produce five to six harvests and a maximum of 5kg per day for 1000 blocks. The incubator gives an opportunity to students and the low income group on how to start a business.

The University hopes to generate an income stream for the undergraduates and local community but the important thing is transferring knowledge so there are more white oyster mushroom entrepreneurs to meet the high demand.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE