Previously, Khmer ethnic people in Thoi Quan commune, Go Quao district (Kien Giang) grew straw mushrooms in households, in a small scale, with low profits. After the Commune Farmers' Association mobilized to participate in the Straw Mushroom Cooperative Group model, the production and consumption of the product has had many advantages. People increase profits and develop their family economy.
Visited Mr. Danh Duoc's family, living in Hoa Binh hamlet, Thoi Quan commune, Go Quao district, a straw mushroom grower for many years. Mr. Duoc said that growing straw mushrooms is not difficult and does not require much land. With 1 square meter of vacant land around his house, Mr. Duoc can grow straw mushrooms year-round.
To achieve high productivity, Mr. Duoc said he must first clean the ground by spreading lime to kill bacteria. The most important step is composting the straw, so when watering, turn the straw evenly.
"If the straw is brought home and incubated for 12 - 15 days, it must be watered regularly. After 15 days, if the straw is beautiful red and has a fragrant smell like the smell of baking medicine, then the straw will be successful, but if it has a bad smell, it will not work. To make successful mushrooms, I choose a place under the shade of a tree. If the sun is too hot, the mushrooms will wilt and the mushrooms will not grow," Mr. Duoc shared his experience.
Mr. Danh Roi's family (living in Hoa Binh hamlet) is also a person who has grown straw mushrooms for many years. Mr. Roi confided: Straw mushroom farming requires little capital, the harvest time is quick, about 30 days, and the profit rate after deducting costs is also quite good. However, mushroom growers must be diligent, diligent, and diligent in their care.
“In growing straw mushrooms, we take advantage of waste straw and do it ourselves, which gives us additional economic benefits and doesn't take up much land. After harvesting the rice, I did housework and planted straw mushrooms to earn an extra 10 million VND/month," Mr. Roi said.
According to Thoi Quan Commune Farmers' Association, Khmer ethnic people grow straw mushrooms in their households. The production method is mainly based on personal experience, so productivity and efficiency are not high. To create conditions for people to develop their profession in a sustainable and biosafe manner, the Commune Farmers' Association has mobilized people to establish a straw mushroom growing cooperative group.
Mr. Roi also shared: "I see that there are many benefits to joining a cooperative group. It's easy to buy raw materials for making mushrooms like straw. The output of mushrooms is also easy to consume, traders everywhere know and come to us." purchasing, but not as uncertain as before."
Mr. Le Quoc Trang, Chairman of Thoi Quan Commune Farmers' Association, said: In recent times, the Farmers' Association has also coordinated with relevant units to support employment services for people such as opening technical training classes. grow straw mushrooms to help farmers know how to grow them effectively.
“Thoi Quan commune has more than 41% of people are Khmer ethnic people, living mainly by farming. The orientation of converting small-scale production methods to production under the cooperative model has helped Khmer farmers change their production thinking, thereby bringing many practical benefits," Mr. Trang emphasized.
Local authorities and Farmers' Associations at all levels also create favorable conditions for the Straw Mushroom Growing Cooperative Group in Hoa Binh hamlet to develop smoothly. Team members are also excited and enthusiastic about working in production, sharing experiences in overcoming difficulties, and rising to develop the family economy. Improved living standards also contribute to helping the local government soon bring the commune to the goal of a new, improved rural area.
