Turning old warehouses into technology farms
Graduated from university with 3 majors, including Control and Automation Engineering Technology, High-tech Agriculture and Business Administration, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat (27 years old, Lich Hoi Thuong commune, Can Tho city) boldly turned to his hometown to start a "smart" blackfin mushroom growing business.
This decision comes from Mr. Dat's passion for clean agriculture combined with the application of technology. In addition, blackfinch mushrooms are easy to control the environment, have few pests, are not affected by climate change and have high economic value, so they are a suitable choice for implementation.
With an initial investment of 50 million VND, Mr. Dat renovated his family's old warehouse into a "smart" mushroom growing house of only 30 square meters. The key is that the entire mushroom growing process is automated with the Internet of Things (IoT) sensor system. This system is capable of remotely monitoring and adjusting important factors such as CO2, light, temperature and humidity through the application on the phone.
Thanks to the automatic mist spraying and air conditioning fan adjustment, the ideal environment is maintained stably, helping black ant fungi grow evenly all year round. In particular, the entire process is remotely controlled, significantly reducing care costs, said Mr. Dat.
The application of technology has helped mushroom productivity increase by 30 - 40% compared to traditional methods, while reducing labor costs and disease risks. By growing a rice paper, Mr. Dat harvests an average of 7 - 8 kg of fresh mushrooms per day, for 350,000 VND/kg.
Currently, Mr. Dat's mushrooms are supplied to restaurants, wholesale markets, clean food stores and widely distributed through e-commerce platforms.
Enhancing agricultural products
In addition to fresh mushrooms, Mr. Dat also invested in a flower dryer to process dried black termital mushroom products, which are favored by the high-end market. His mushroom products have been supported by the locality to register to meet 3-star OCOP standards, creating a foundation for building their own brand.
With the current success, Mr. Dat is cherishing a plan to expand the additional 70 m2 mushroom house, invest in a seedling production line and transfer technology to households in need.
I hope this model will not only help me develop my economy but also spread the spirit of modern agricultural startups. As long as we know how to apply technology, we can completely do agriculture right in our own homes, Mr. Dat affirmed.
The model of this engineer has proven that, with the combination of technological knowledge and passion for clean agriculture, young people can completely create stable income right in their homeland, contributing to opening a new direction for smart and modern agriculture.
Mr. Dat's smart black termity mushroom growing model has received high appreciation from the locality. Mr. Lieu Minh Giau - Secretary of the Hoi Thuong Calendar Commune Youth Union - commented that this model has brought clear economic efficiency and is a great source of inspiration. To replicate the model, the Commune Youth Union is coordinating with distribution units to support consumption, while creating conditions for union members to visit, study, and access farming techniques.
