Leaving the city to return to the countryside to grow black termite mushrooms.

BPO - After many years working as an employee in the food technology sector, Huynh Tan Viet from Loc Thuan commune, Loc Ninh district, decided to return to his hometown to start his own business. Instead of choosing the easy path, Viet opted for a new model that requires high technical skills and significant investment, but also holds great potential: cultivating black termite mushrooms in an artificial environment.

Starting a business from passion and systematic investment.

In early 2025, returning to his hometown with 200 million VND from his family and savings accumulated over many years of work, Viet boldly built a 100m² workshop, installing a modern insulation system, air conditioning, and automatic misting system. Not stopping there, he borrowed another 250 million VND from the bank to invest in 10,000 mushroom substrate bags along with tools, equipment, and machinery for on-site processing. The model of cultivating black termite mushrooms in a cold room began to take shape from the determination and systematic investment of a young man passionate about agriculture .

Viet shared: “Investing in a factory system is quite expensive, so initially I faced many difficulties with capital. However, thanks to saving up some money, plus securing additional funds from various sources, I finally managed to build the factory I wanted.”

After years of working various jobs, in early 2025, Huynh Tan Viet (right in the photo) returned to his hometown and successfully started his own business cultivating black termite mushrooms in cold rooms.

To harvest at the right time and ensure quality standards, mushroom growers must regularly check and monitor the growth of the mushrooms.

Each bag of mushroom spawn costs 16,500 VND, and after about 40 days of care, the mushrooms begin to be harvested. Notably, this type of black termite mushroom grows very quickly when cultivated using the correct techniques. The peak period is from day 40 to day 85, with him harvesting three times a day: at 6 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM. On average, his mushroom farm yields 30-40 kg of mushrooms per day.

Even with automated systems supporting optimal mushroom growth, growers still need to regularly check and monitor each mushroom cap. This allows them to choose the precise time to harvest the mushrooms promptly, ensuring the product meets quality standards and avoiding premature or over-harvesting, which would affect quality. Each substrate bag can yield continuous harvests for 4 months, helping to maintain a stable income throughout the cycle.

Viet said: "The most difficult thing here is having to constantly check the growth of the mushrooms before harvesting to ensure quality. Initially, due to lack of experience, some mushrooms were too young or too old. After some time, everything became standardized and ensured the best product quality."

Spreading the entrepreneurial spirit

Not only does it bring high income to his family, but Mr. Viet's black termite mushroom farming model also contributes to solving the unemployment problem for local people. After the mushroom farm achieved stable yields, in early May 2025, he established the Viet Farm Cooperative and created regular jobs for 5 elderly workers in the area. Their work in processing and packaging mushrooms provides an average income of 200,000 VND per person per day.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kiem, residing in Hamlet 4, Loc Thuan Commune, said: "The people working here are all older women, so it's very difficult to find work. Being called by Mr. Viet to do mushroom processing at his house is very easy. At my age, I'm happy to be able to do this work; it provides extra income to help support my children."

Besides creating jobs, the model has also been highly appreciated by the local government and the District Farmers' Association for opening up a new direction in the development of agricultural economy in a collective and systematic way. According to Mr. Hoang Ngoc Anh, Chairman of the Loc Ninh District Farmers' Association, Mr. Viet's establishment and operation of the cooperative is the right direction and should be replicated.

“Cultivating black termite mushrooms is a new direction, in line with the current trend of high-tech agriculture. The model that Mr. Viet is implementing is bringing high economic efficiency and has a stable market. We hope that many other farmer members will come here to learn from this model and develop together.”

Mr. HOANG NGOC ANH, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Loc Ninh District

Currently, Mr. Viet's black termite mushrooms are purchased directly from his farm by traders at various prices: Grade 1 mushrooms range from 320-350 thousand VND/kg, Grade 2 from 190-210 thousand VND/kg, and Grade 3 from 160-180 thousand VND/kg. If sold as raw material, the price is around 165 thousand VND/kg, a favorable price to ensure profit for growers. After deducting expenses, his family earns an average of several million VND per day.

Mr. Viet added: "Selling raw would be easier, but the economic value would be low, so I process the products before delivering them. This not only increases profits but also creates jobs for some local workers."

Not stopping there, Mr. Viet is planning to expand the scale to 50,000 seedling bags in the near future. Expanding the model will not only increase his family's income but also open up opportunities for cooperation and sharing experience with many farmers in the region.

Besides providing economic benefits for his family, Mr. Viet's mushroom farm also creates jobs for many elderly people in the local area.

From a young man who returned to his hometown to work as a laborer, Huynh Tan Viet has gradually built a modern and efficient agricultural model right in the challenging border region. His story is a vivid testament to the spirit of daring to think, daring to act, knowing how to invest in the right direction, applying technology, and utilizing local resources to achieve sustainable wealth. Not only has his black termite mushroom cultivation model contributed to increasing his own and his family's income, but it has also opened a new path for agriculture in Loc Ninh, a region that is gradually transforming thanks to young people full of passion and ambition.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/173972/bo-pho-ve-que-trong-nam-moi-den