Mushroom substrates at the Mu Cang Chai cooperative, which produces edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms. Picture: Tuan Anh
The market space for shiitake mushrooms is still very large
Founded in 2019, the Mu Cang Chai Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Production Cooperative has launched many agricultural products every year, including: Shiitake mushrooms, beets, vegetables, stone sprouts… It is expected that in 2023 the cooperative will supply more than 300 tons of commercial shiitake mushrooms on the market.
The model of growing shiitake mushrooms on sawdust substrates has yielded the greatest benefits and economics. From an area of 3,000 m2 mushroom house, the cooperative will expand to 6,000 m2 in 2023 and start large-scale production of mushrooms.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, Director of Mu Cang Chai Cooperative, which produces edible and medicinal mushrooms, said, “I am a person passionate about agricultural development, in my spare time I go online to learn about agricultural production areas. Karma.
Through market research, I found out that shiitake products were very popular and supply was low, so I visited and learned some models of shiitake cultivation, especially some models of cultivation of shiitake using techniques from China, Japan…
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh, director of the Mushroom Production Cooperative Mu Cang Chai, directs the workers to work. Picture: Tuan Anh
At the production cost of a bag of mushrooms in China from 12,000 to 15,000 VND, 1 kg of fresh mushrooms costs 27,000 to 30,000 VND, a bag of mushrooms for 700 g – 1 kg is still profitable. In Vietnam, the price of fresh shiitake mushrooms ranges from 65,000 to 70,000 VND/kg, the big difference in selling price motivated me to start cultivating shiitake mushrooms.
In order to choose Nam Khat (Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai) as the place to develop shiitake cultivation, Mr. Hoang Anh went to many places to learn and research the growth and development of shiitake trees. Cao Bang is also one of the places he visited. In Cao Bang, shiitake mushrooms only thrive in the last 3 months of the year, the rest of the time is used only for silk cultivation. When he comes to Nam Khat country, the climate is cool and favorable for the growth of shiitake mushrooms, so he decided to invest in the development of a model for cultivating shiitake mushrooms.
Mr. Hoang Anh shared: Shiitake mushrooms are not easy to grow because the temperature, humidity and living conditions must meet the standard conditions. In order to grow mushrooms, it is necessary to choose plants that do not have essential oils, to make mushroom growing media that do not contain toxins, fats, chemicals…
Mushrooms are grown in sterile cabinets to ensure technical processes. Picture: Tuan Anh
Shiitake mushrooms are transplanted in sterile inoculation cabinets into bags with sawdust at the rate of 2.5 – 3% of the amount of seeds compared to the material. Usually a bottle of 400g of seeds can be transplanted from 20-25 bags of sawdust. Each growing season usually lasts 4-5 months. Care should be taken to ensure that the watering corresponds to the principle.
With a mushroom house size of 3,000m2, the cooperative has created regular jobs for about 30 local workers and even hired seasonal workers in the off-season for VND 150,000/person/day. In 2023, the cooperative is planning an expansion of 3,000 square meters. With a size of 6,000 m2, the Mu Cang Chai cooperative, which produces edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms, will be able to produce 50,000 to 600,000 bags of mushrooms and supply the market with 250 to 300 tons of commercial mushrooms in 2023.
Production linkage, export oriented
In 2023, the Mu Cang Chai Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Production Cooperative was actively seeking markets for its products, and a number of partners in the Saigon area signed sales contracts. To secure the consumption market, the cooperative also promotes the connection of other foreign partners.
In addition, the cooperative also cooperates with Cao Bang Mushroom Cooperative in the production chain to ensure adequate supply for the needs of partners and consumers.
The media inoculated with shiitake mushrooms can be concentrated to await growth of the mycelium. Picture: Tuan Anh
Ms. Giang Thi Say, of Mong ethnic group in Hua Khat Village, Nam Khat Township, said excitedly, Ever since the cooperative that produces edible mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms started operating, she has applied for a job as a laborer. Thanks to the cooperative, she has created jobs and helped her to earn a stable income. In 2022 her family was lifted out of poverty.
Ms. Giang Thi Phuong, who works at the cooperative, said, “My family has about 8,000 m2 of agricultural land. We used to be able to only grow one rice crop a year, not enough for food. Since then, the cooperative has been producing edible mushrooms, medicinal mushrooms have been successful. When he was founded, he rented the entire area of his family’s land to build a mushroom house for 30 million VND/year. The money he used to buy rice was 4-5 times more than growing rice. I am applying to the co-op with a monthly income of 4.5-6 million”.
Since the cooperative was founded, it has created stable jobs for around 50-60 local workers. People don’t have to work far away, have a stable income, many people in the community who work here have come out of poverty and can buy many valuable household items.
In addition to the advantages of natural conditions and available local labor force, the Mu Cang Chai Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Production Cooperative also encounters many difficulties, such as: Mu Cang Chai is a highland area that mainly grows species of coniferous essential Oils, therefore, cannot be used as raw materials. In order to grow mushrooms, all raw materials for the production of cooperative substrates must be imported from Cao Bang and some other places.