Syrian mushroom production goes from cottage to factory – in pictures

  • A self-taught farmer in Syria shows oyster mushrooms picked up from the organic Al-Amal farm, which was established by a group of young activists displaced from the Ghouta region, near Damascus, in the rebel-held northern Aleppo province. All photos: AFP
    A self-taught farmer in Syria shows oyster mushrooms picked up from the organic Al-Amal farm, which was established by a group of young activists displaced from the Ghouta region, near Damascus, in the rebel-held northern Aleppo province. All photos: AFP
  • Oyster mushrooms growing in a humid basement at the Al-Amal farm. The group of young Syrians gained experience during the five-year siege of the Ghouta region by President Bashar Al Assad's regime forces, between 2013 and 2018, when they started producing the fungi in small quantities to cope with the limited food supply and as a replacement for meat.
    Oyster mushrooms growing in a humid basement at the Al-Amal farm. The group of young Syrians gained experience during the five-year siege of the Ghouta region by President Bashar Al Assad's regime forces, between 2013 and 2018, when they started producing the fungi in small quantities to cope with the limited food supply and as a replacement for meat.
  • A Syrian farmer prepares chaff for growing oyster mushrooms at Al-Amal farm. Now in their new workshop in the basement of a building in Afrin, near the border with Turkey, they say they produce around 300 kilograms of mushrooms a week for sale in Aleppo and Idlib markets at the rate of $1.35 per kg.
    A Syrian farmer prepares chaff for growing oyster mushrooms at Al-Amal farm. Now in their new workshop in the basement of a building in Afrin, near the border with Turkey, they say they produce around 300 kilograms of mushrooms a week for sale in Aleppo and Idlib markets at the rate of $1.35 per kg.
  • The produce is stacked in crates.
    The produce is stacked in crates.
  • A Syrian self-taught farmer checks oyster mushrooms growing in a humid basement at the Al-Amal farm.
    A Syrian self-taught farmer checks oyster mushrooms growing in a humid basement at the Al-Amal farm.
  • Syrian workers package oyster mushrooms picked up from the organic farmers at Al-Amal.
    Syrian workers package oyster mushrooms picked up from the organic farmers at Al-Amal.
  • Packaged oyster mushrooms ready for the market.
    Packaged oyster mushrooms ready for the market.
  • A Syrian vendor displays the mushrooms at his small shop in the town of Binnish in Syria's north-western Idlib province.
    A Syrian vendor displays the mushrooms at his small shop in the town of Binnish in Syria's north-western Idlib province.