The transition dream of a large shiitake mushroom grower in Hengjian Township, Lushi County

On February 23, Hai Jiang, a large edible fungus producer in Hengjian Township, Lushi County, introduced his experience while lifting branch wood into a grinder, and white sawdust immediately sprayed from the discharge outlet. He said: "This year, the Beginning of Spring came early, so we need to prepare the raw materials for spring-planted substitute-material shiitake mushrooms early, to ensure that we can make bags and inoculate in February and March, when temperatures are low, the air is dry, and contaminating microorganisms are less active."

In the wheat yard not far away, the grinder rumbled, and some mushroom growers were grinding sawdust. In the fields farther off, some mushroom growers were preparing land and raising ridges, getting ready to grow morels. Just after the fifth day of the first lunar month, the mushroom growers began busy work.

Hai Jiang's mood was as bright as the early spring sky. He is the president of the shiitake mushroom association in Mazhuanghe Village of the township and already has 15 years of edible fungus production experience. Speaking of cultivating substitute-material shiitake mushrooms, he talked on and on: "Our family has become prosperous over the years by cultivating bag-grown shiitake mushrooms, built a three-story house, bought a motorcycle and a three-wheeler, and also bought a computer and the most fashionable household appliances. This really is a good project for us farmers to get rich." According to reports, under the policy guidance and financial support of the Lushi County Party Committee and County Government, the county's farmers have become more and more enthusiastic about cultivating substitute-material shiitake mushrooms. With the promotion and application of advanced and practical cultivation techniques, the yield and quality of shiitake mushrooms have improved markedly. In 2015, the county developed 91.98 million bags of substitute-material shiitake mushrooms, achieved a comprehensive output value of more than 686 million yuan, and earned 31.15 million USD in export foreign exchange, with the per capita income of mushroom growers at more than 5,000 yuan. Thanks to the special geographical environment and climatic conditions, the shiitake mushrooms produced in the county are large, thick-fleshed, tender, delicious and rich in nutrients, and have obtained pollution-free product origin certification from Henan Province. In addition to supplying the domestic market, they are also exported to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. In order to improve intensive production, the county newly introduced 6 new edible fungus varieties, including morels and Cordyceps militaris, demonstrated and promoted new technologies such as reflective nets and recycling of waste mushroom bags, and built 6 new standardized demonstration bases, setting an example for the vast number of mushroom growers to transform traditional cultivation models.

"Look, every household in our village is like me." Hai Jiang pointed to the village in the distance, where single-story houses and small buildings were interwoven, and said: "Relying on developing bag-grown shiitake mushrooms, most villagers in our village now live in small buildings and single-story houses. Last year I developed 10,000 bags and earned a total income of more than 100,000 yuan. This year I will develop another 10,000 bags. As the country fully implements a ban on logging in natural forests, the development of traditional edible fungus bag-grown shiitake mushrooms faces a shortage of raw materials. I have already attended the training class on promoting new edible fungus varieties organized by the county agriculture and animal husbandry bureau, and this year I plan to trial-plant 3 mu of morels in cultivated land. We ordinary people also need to keep up with the situation and actively transform toward developing new edible fungus varieties, directly sowing edible fungus spawn into the land in the future." Speaking of this, a happy smile appeared on Hai Jiang's face.