Straw mushrooms 80,000 VND/kg, farmers are still concerned

These days, along provincial road 922, passing through Phuoc Thoi ward (Can Tho City), the atmosphere of growing and harvesting straw mushrooms is quite busy. Mushroom growing has long become a part of the rhythm of life of Can Tho people, helping many families overcome difficulties. However, for some households who have been in the profession for many years, the work is facing many difficulties.

Currently, the price of type 1 straw mushrooms distributed to markets and supermarkets is maintained at a fairly good level, fluctuating around 80,000 VND/kg. This is an ideal price for agricultural products made from agricultural by-products. However, the actual profit that farmers hold in hand is not much because the actual yield has decreased quite a lot.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung (Phuoc Thoi ward) shared: "Straw mushrooms are the most sensitive to the weather. In the past 5 years, the weather in the Mekong Delta has no longer been favorable as before, so yield has decreased by 30-40%".

According to Mr. Hung, the straw mushroom production process is very elaborate, from straw incubation, moulding to spawning and dew irrigation to retain moisture. Therefore, just a sudden temperature difference between day and night or prolonged rain, drought, the effort is considered wasted.

Ms. Vo Thi Xuan (Phuoc Thoi ward) continued: "The erratic climate makes the yield very precarious! There are harsh crops, the yield drops deeply, farmers can only look at each other and laugh because it is not enough to compensate for the capital spent.

Not only "gambling with heaven", straw mushroom growers today also have to face another difficult economic problem, which is the continuous escalation of input costs.

Occasionally, farmers fall into a situation of raw material shortage due to changes in rice crop seasons and harvest methods using modern machinery. Straw is no longer abundant, so at some times of the year, the price of raw straw is pushed up and difficult to buy.

Despite facing countless difficulties, farmers in Can Tho still affirm that they will not give up their profession. Because for them, straw mushroom growing not only brings economic value but also contributes to environmental protection and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the situation of indiscriminate burning of fields after each rice harvest.

We are researching some solutions, in summary, how to adapt to harsh weather so that straw mushrooms grown still give good and clean quality to the table. It is also necessary to consider the fact that straw sources are always scarce because currently, straw on rice fields can be used for many things, handicrafts, household appliances..." - Ms. Xuan expressed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hung expects in-depth technical guidance programs such as conversion to membrane house models, smart irrigation technology to proactively avoid weather. "We also want to be supported to access preferential loans so that we can invest in production in a more methodical and scientific way," Mr. Hung added.