Ms. Hong with the model of growing organic mushrooms in a closed greenhouse

Having a passion for agriculture , along with understanding the market demand, in 2009, Ms. Hong decided to pool capital to grow different types of mushrooms such as straw mushrooms, black fungus, oyster mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms. After several years of research and model implementation, Ms. Hong realized that straw mushrooms are the most productive and consumed type of mushroom. From there, she decided to invest in 6 rooms, with a total area of ​​60m2 specializing in growing organic straw mushrooms.

Ms. Hong said that the conditions for straw mushrooms to grow well are that the greenhouse must follow the correct process and technical standards, ensuring factors such as: light, temperature, air, humidity, etc.; if one of the above factors is missing, the mushrooms cannot grow well. Ms. Hong's organic mushroom growing model is grown on steel frames, divided into many layers, thus saving production land area. The main raw materials for mushroom spawn are products from cotton stalks, straw, and ground corn, which rot quickly, have high nutritional content, are low cost, and the time from preparing the soil to harvesting is about 15 - 20 days. Each batch produces 20 - 25 kg of finished mushrooms.

The special feature of the organic mushroom growing model in greenhouses is that it does not use pesticides, produces clean products, and is safe for users. Thanks to that, the output of the products is also guaranteed and is favored by consumers. On average, Ms. Hong harvests more than 1 quintal of mushrooms per month. These mushrooms are sold to small traders in A Luoi district at prices ranging from 80,000 - 90,000 VND/kg, and retailed to consumers at 120,000 VND/kg.

From July 2024 to now, the Department of Science and Technology has guided on how to grow mushrooms with high techniques and technology. After more than a month of application, Ms. Hong's mushroom growing model using new technology has harvested the first 3 batches, each batch yielding 55kg of mushrooms, more than double the previous growing method. "Since applying high techniques and technology, the quality of finished mushrooms has been much better, the size of the mushrooms has grown evenly, larger, and the nutritional quality is also higher than the old growing method," Ms. Hong said excitedly.

“I am continuing to experiment with high-tech growing methods. If the product quality is stable, I will expand the production and business model; thereby expanding the consumption market to Hue City, Da Nang City…”, Ms. Hong shared.

Ms. Hong uses the waste from straw mushroom spawn to make fertilizer for her guava garden. The closed-loop model is both economical and makes full use of waste from the mushroom growing model, the guava garden grows well and produces high yields.

Ms. Hong also creates jobs for 5 ethnic minority people in the village, with an income of 4.5 - 6 million VND/month and more than 10 seasonal workers with an income of 180,000 - 200,000 VND/day.

Ms. Dang Thi Hong is one of the highland women who dare to think, dare to do, and boldly get rich in difficult land. Not only is she good at production and business, Ms. Hong also creates jobs for ethnic minorities, helping them have a stable source of income, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction in the locality.

On August 23, Ms. Dang Thi Hong was one of the outstanding individuals honored by the Provincial Ethnic Committee and awarded a certificate of merit for her outstanding economic model and successful start-up in ethnic minority areas in 2024.

Article and photos: Bach Chau