Bac Ninh (VNS/VNA) - After investing 100 million VND(4,300 USD) to grow mushrooms in a 300 sq.m workshop in 2015, a family in thenorthern province of Bac Ninh earned 150 million VND a year later.

The profit made Luong Thi Kim Ngoc, born in 1989, and herhusband, of Dong Cuu commune, Gia Binh district, more confident in theirstart-up choice.

But one winter day, they were astonished to see all of themushrooms in their workshop had spoiled after a frigid night.

“Mushrooms grow well in hot weather with high humidity.However, at this time, our workshop was wrapped with nets only. Cold windsruined all the mushroom germs,” Ngoc said.

“We were just so inexperienced,” she said, adding that theyrushed to get money to fix the workshop so that it could meet Vietnamese GoodAgricultural Practice (VietGAP) standards.

Unlike conventional mushroom growing techniques, VietGAPrequires farmers to follow strict requirements in every production stages, Ngocsaid.

Growers have to use listed substances only, she said, addingthat she prefered bioproducts for her mushrooms.

“When I first started growing mushrooms, I mixed straw andsawdust to make mushroom substrates. Then, I used cotton instead of straw,” shesaid.

“My husband and I were so happy to see our first mushroombatches. We brought the mushroom to offer to all the food stores in theneighbourhood,” Ngoc said, adding that the stores accepted the mushrooms.

“For the first year, we earned a profit of 150 million VND,”she said, noting that, since then, they have earned about 30 million VNDmonthly.

Graduating from Biotechnology Department of Thai NguyenAgriculture and Forestry in 2012, Ngoc said she used to work for companies butreturned to her hometown to grow mushrooms which helped her to satisfy her twopassions – business and biotechnology.

Growing mushrooms depended much on the weather, so having astandard workshop played a key role in successful farming, Ngoc said.

She paid much attention to the workshop where she installedan automatic lighting system and a semi-automatic watering system so lights andhumidity could be adjusted properly, creating favourable conditions formushroom growth.

In 2018, Ngoc’s mushroom workshop was recognised as meetingVietGAP standards.

The Gia Binh district Women’s Union also helped Ngoc access aloan of 300 million VND to develop her start-up.

Ngoc invited seven people in her neighbourhood to form a cooperative.She taught other cooperative members farming techniques and found a market fortheir products.

With a stable market, Ngoc’s co-operative sells about a tonneof oyster mushrooms and 700kg of straw mushrooms monthly.

As her business has expanded, she offered regular jobs forthree other people and seasonal jobs for two others. Each of them could earn onaverage 6 million VND monthly.

Dao Thi Chat, a farmer in Dong Cuu commune, said that thanksto Ngoc’s support, she now also grew mushroom in addition to rice.

“Mushrooms help generate extra income for my family andimprove our living conditions,” she said.

Tran Thi Hoa, chairwoman of the district Women’s Union, saidthat the union connected Ngọc and other local farmers who wanted to growmushrooms.

Ngoc not only shared her experience and farming skills butalso helped other mushroom growers sell their products, Hoa said, adding thatthe union has been supporting Ngọc to develop her own mushroom trademark./.