In the heart of a rural community where job opportunities are scarce and sustainable agriculture practices are needed, one agricultural entrepreneur is making a significant impact. Mutinta Handoondo, a Diploma holder in General Agriculture, is leading a youth-driven movement through the Try-well Youth Co-operative that is revolutionising farming practices while providing economic opportunities for young people.

From Education to Entrepreneurship

After completing her education and facing the harsh reality of unemployment, Mutinta refused to give up.

“After thinking through, I thought I would do something beneficial out of myself. I had the knowledge and skills and so I thought of utilising them as a youth,” Mutinta explained.

Mutinta leveraged on her agricultural expertise to create opportunities, not just for herself, but for other young people in her community.

In April 2018, Try-well Youth Co-operative was officially registered with the registrar of societies under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare in Zambia.

“What began as a group of 22 youth members has evolved into a focused team of 18 dedicated members who have pooled their resources and skills to build a sustainable enterprise,” Mutinta added.

Mushroom Cultivation: A Path to Food Security

The co-operative’s flagship initiative is mushroom cultivation, specifically the HK 35 variety of oyster mushrooms.

Mutinta  says she chose the variety due to  its unique flavor, high yield potential, fast growth and disease resistance adding that the cultivation process is methodical and precise: preparation and sterilization of substrate, careful spawning, a 21-day incubation period, creating openings to enhance fruiting and finally harvesting the first cluster after a week.

“Food security was a primary motivation. Mushroom cultivation improves food security, particularly in areas with limited access to nutritious food and my community happens to be such an area.” Mutinta says.

Mutinta describes her co-operative’s approach as unique as it integrates multiple sustainable practices.

“The mushroom production utilises agricultural waste materials including maize stalks, cotton stalks and ordinary elephant grass thereby reducing waste disposal problems while creating valuable food products.

Sustainable Agricultural Innovations

Try-well’s impact extends beyond mushroom cultivation. The co-operative has developed expertise in producing charcoal briquettes, offering significant advantages over traditional charcoal.

“Charcoal briquettes are long-lasting, about 2-3 hours, they are deforestation-free, and they are smokeless,” Mutinta highlights.

Additionally, the group produces organic fertilisers—bokashi and biochar—using locally available materials. These fertilizers increase the soil’s ability to return water, provide housing for beneficial microbes, balance pH levels in acidic soils and assist root growth while reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.

Mutinta’s passion for sustainability is evident when she mentions that “mushroom cultivation involves the use of mycelium that can help sequester carbon in the soil,” demonstrating her awareness of how these practices contribute to climate change mitigation.

Overcoming Community Skepticism

The path to establishing the co-operative was not without challenges.

“Transforming the mindset of youths in the community was the biggest challenge,” Mutinta admits.

Mutinta narrates that many potential members held unrealistic expectations and did not understand the concept of risk-taking in business.

“Criticism hit me bad and I almost gave up. Everyone in the community knew I was a graduate and they expected me to find a white-collar job. They had many allegations concerning my education—some said I failed in school and could not get a job, others suggested I didn’t complete my education.” Mutinta narrated.

Mutinta narrated that despite discouraging comments, she persevered and the co-operative is achieving tangible results.

Economic Impact and Skills Development

The co-operative began modestly, with each member contributing three village chickens. Their first sale of 47 chickens at $2 each raised $94, which became their starting capital. They invested in 80 bottles of spawn at $1.1 each and produced 118 kg of oyster mushrooms, selling them at $1.5 per kg for a total of $177

Production volumes and revenue have since increased by an impressive 53%. Members previously unemployed benefit from the proceeds, making this growth particularly significant for their economic well-being.

Beyond income generation, Try-well equips its youth members with valuable skills including financial literacy, bookkeeping, opportunity identification and entrepreneurship skills. These transferable abilities prepare members for long-term success within the co-operative and beyond.

Community Influence and Knowledge Sharing

The co-operative’s influence extends throughout the community.

“The community has been positively impacted such that other community members have started adopting the organic way of farming,” Mutinta notes proudly.

Mutinta emphasises inclusivity in their knowledge-sharing approach:

 “When having trainings, I do not limit the invitation to members only. It is open to whoever is willing to learn, be it a youth, man, or woman—all are welcome.”

Mutinta also shares that customers are responding enthusiastically to the co-operative’s products, providing positive feedback and recommending others to purchase from Try-well. This is creating a virtuous cycle of growth through word-of-mouth marketing.

Future Vision

Looking ahead, Mutinta and her team is exploring expansion into the horticulture sector. They aim to maximise production and reach a nationwide market by increasing working hours and establishing their own spawn laboratory.

When asked about the support needed to achieve these goals, Mutinta is specific: “I need a rural spawn laboratory setup,” adding that the infrastructure will enable the co-operative to become more self-sufficient in their mushroom production and potentially reduce costs while increasing quality control.

A Model for Youth-Led Agricultural Entrepreneurship

Try-well Youth Co-operative represents a powerful model for addressing multiple challenges simultaneously: youth unemployment, food insecurity, environmental sustainability and community development. By combining traditional agricultural knowledge with innovative techniques, Mutinta has created a platform that demonstrates how young people can be part of the solution to pressing rural challenges.

As more communities face the dual pressures of limited economic opportunities and environmental degradation, the Try-well approach offers valuable lessons on the potential of youth-led, sustainability-focused agricultural entrepreneurship to create meaningful change.

Through perseverance, innovation and a commitment to sharing knowledge, Mutinta Handoondo and the members of Try-well Youth Co-operative is not just growing mushrooms – they are  cultivating hope and demonstrating that with the right support and determination, rural youth can build sustainable livelihoods while contributing to community resilience.

Download the sustainable organic agriculture manual by Kasisi Agriculture Training Centre from the button below for more information.

Author: Rabecca Mwila

Rabecca Mwila is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. With a background in climate change and communications, she has spent years telling the untold stories of the realities of climate change, environmental and climate injustices and how they affect vulnerable communities in Africa and beyond.