Zhu Qichao Blazes a Path to Prosperity Through Mushroom Cultivation

At 26, Zhu Qichao is already a well-known capable man in Laomogou Village. In July 2014, Zhu Qichao founded the Senyi Mushroom Cultivation Professional Cooperative. After two years of development, it has attracted 73 member households, with an annual cultivation of more than 1.5 million sticks (bags) of mushrooms, an annual output of over 180,000 kg, an output value of more than 15 million yuan, and employment for more than 290 returning migrant workers, forming an integrated business model of cultivation, processing and sales.

Laomogou Village is located in a mountain hollow in Silidian Township, Fangcheng County, Henan Province, and Zhu Qichao's home is here too. In 2011, Zhu Qichao, holding a junior college diploma, drifted on the streets of Shenzhen and Dongguan. Because of his low educational background, no one was willing to hire him, and disheartened, he returned to the mountain hollow. "Live off the mountain; you might as well grow edible fungi!" A classmate's words ignited Zhu Qichao's hope. Silidian Township is located at the source of the Li River, with green mountains and clear waters, abundant resources, and oak forests accounting for three-quarters of the total land area. So Zhu Qichao hurried to Hubei and other places to investigate the mushroom market, and also bought books on edible fungus cultivation to study and learn.

In the autumn of 2012, Zhu Qichao raised 10,000 yuan and cultivated 5,000 bags of mushrooms. During the spawn-running stage, two-thirds of the bags turned green, and he was heartbroken: "If they all go bad, then all the money will be lost!" He found books on edible fungus technology and studied them carefully, finally found the cause, and carried out timely remediation. With this spirit of eager learning and deep study, his edible fungus cultivation technology gradually matured. Later, he switched from bag substrate cultivation to log cultivation. Combined with the unique geographical and climatic characteristics of Silidian Township, most of the mushrooms produced were flower mushrooms, with thick caps, good color and fragrant taste. His returns grew steadily, and he became a well-known large-scale mushroom grower nearby.

Zhu Qichao deeply understands the importance of technology. He boldly carried out technological innovation and tackled key problems in many aspects, including trials and demonstrations of new varieties and new technologies, pest and disease control, and research on high-yield cultivation techniques. He has tested more than 50 items and introduced 3 new varieties, raising the technological content of the local mushroom industry and strengthening its development potential.

Zhu Qichao deeply understands the hardships of farmers and knows how urgently they hope to escape the current predicament of relying solely on grain farming to increase income. To guide everyone to grow mushrooms and achieve common prosperity, Zhu Qichao visited households one by one and persuaded them, providing convenience in funding, sites and many other aspects. Villager Hu Liang contracted oak forest land and had a site in front of his house, enjoying uniquely favorable conditions for growing mushrooms, but he was afraid of failing and losing money. Zhu Qichao made him a promise: "Just grow them with peace of mind. If you lose money, count it as mine." That year, Hu Liang grew 10,000 sticks of mushrooms, and the following year he achieved a profit.

To encourage more farming households to return home and start businesses, with the help of the local government, Zhu Qichao took the lead in organizing farmers to establish the Senyi Mushroom Cultivation Professional Cooperative. In order to give full play to the cooperative's role in driving and promoting development, Zhu Qichao actively provided a series of services before, during and after production, adopting measures such as unified production materials, procurement and supply of high-quality spawn, technical training and technical guidance, production standards, and post-production sales. He guided growers to carry out joint-household marketing and large-scale growers to lead sales, and encouraged members to bring in customers to expand the marketing market. Today, their mushroom sales market extends across 34 administrative villages in 4 townships of 3 counties: Fangcheng, Nanzhao and Lushan.

Now, with the vigorous development of the mushroom industry and the increase in returning migrant workers, the existing cooperative business model no longer meets the needs of the market economy. Zhu Qichao has now decided to start implementing an idea he has long had: registering the "Senyi" brand trademark, creating an independent brand, engaging in deep product processing, developing e-commerce, and leading more fellow villagers in the depths of the mountains out of poverty toward prosperity.