Growing red reishi mushrooms under forest canopy: Direction for sustainable forestry development

(GLO)- After 5 years of cooperation in growing red lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy, Minh Khanh Gia Lai Company Limited has mastered the technology of embryos, spawns and mushroom processing, which has been highly appreciated by the market. Not only opening a new direction for the medicinal industry, this model also contributes to the sustainable development of forestry.

Earn billions from lingzhi mushrooms

Until now, Mr. Nguyen Cong Hieu - Director of Minh Khanh Gia Lai Company Limited still remembers clearly the first time he brought the first red lingzhi mushroom embryos to test planting under the canopy of hybrid acacia forest at the foot of Co mountain (Ia Phi commune).

Mr. Nguyen Cong Hieu next to the red lingzhi mushroom garden under the canopy of the planted forest in Ia Phi commune. Photo: ND

After many years of traveling everywhere to learn techniques and experience in growing Ganoderma lucidum under the forest canopy from predecessors, in 2020, he decided to cooperate with Vos Five A Microbiological Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited (Dak Doa commune) and Nui Co Agricultural Service Cooperative to test growing Ganoderma lucidum at the foot of Co mountain.

"The soil, climate, and humidity under the acacia forest canopy here are very suitable for the growth and development of lingzhi mushrooms. After only 3 months of planting, the mushrooms begin to be harvested with standard size, weight, and medicinal properties," said Mr. Hieu.

Ganoderma lucidum mushroom spawn grows well under the acacia forest canopy, bringing high economic value. Every 1,000 mushroom spawn (costing 40 million VND), after 3 months of planting, will yield about 120-150 kg of mushrooms, sold for 1 million VND/kg of dried Ganoderma lucidum. Each mushroom spawn can be harvested 3-4 times/year.

Currently, the Company is focusing on surveying to expand the planting area in about 40 hectares of acacia forest. It is expected that after deducting investment costs, the Company will earn a profit of about 3.5-4 billion VND each year.

Harvesting red reishi mushrooms. Photo: QT

From the initial success, Minh Khanh Gia Lai Company Limited continues to cooperate with many ethnic minority households in the region to grow red lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy. Currently, the Company has planted 9 locations, in addition to communes such as Ia Phi, Bau Can (Gia Lai province), the unit has also expanded to grow in Quang Tri, Quang Ngai provinces and Hue City...

At the same time, the Company has also successfully researched and processed many products from red lingzhi mushrooms such as: whole red lingzhi mushrooms, honey lingzhi mushrooms, lingzhi extract, lingzhi starch, sliced ​​red lingzhi mushrooms... which are popular in the market. In addition to selling to consumers in need, the Company also signed contracts to supply raw lingzhi mushrooms to pharmaceutical companies in and outside the province.

Opening the way for sustainable forestry development

With a stable purchasing market and mastering embryo culture techniques as well as planting and processing, Minh Khanh Gia Lai Company Limited is continuing to survey and test planting red lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy in Dak Rong and Kbang communes.

According to Mr. Hieu, red lingzhi mushroom is a precious medicinal herb with many health benefits, favored by domestic and foreign consumers. Growing red lingzhi mushroom does not require much investment in fertilizers and pesticides like other crops; it is only necessary to choose a clean forest area to grow, and the direct irrigation water source must also be clean. Along with that, growers need to build a mushroom spawn production workshop to proactively coordinate and avoid dependence.

Red Ganoderma mushrooms grow well under the canopy of planted acacia forests. Photo: ND

With the advantage of a large forest area, suitable climate and soil, the western region of Gia Lai has a lot of space and potential to develop medicinal plants in general and lingzhi mushrooms in particular under the forest canopy. Thereby, not only creating jobs and increasing income for local people, but also contributing to sustainable forest development.

Currently, in addition to Minh Khang Gia Lai Company Limited and Nui Co Agricultural Service Cooperative, some individuals in Ya Hoi and Sro communes... have also approached growing red lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy, initially bringing positive results.

Mr. Tran Van Tri - Deputy Director of Dak Rong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. (Dak Rong commune) said: The company is managing and protecting about 15,000 hectares of natural forest. This is a very good environment to implement the model of growing lingzhi mushrooms. The unit is coordinating with Minh Khang Gia Lai Co., Ltd. to test growing about 1 sao of red lingzhi mushrooms. If successful, this model will be a promising direction for sustainable forestry development associated with growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy.

Similarly, Lo Ku Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. is also coordinating with Minh Khang Gia Lai Co., Ltd. to survey and deploy the cultivation of lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy.

"According to the plan, we will develop red lingzhi mushroom cultivation on an area of ​​about 1,600 hectares of forest; at the same time, we will test planting under the macadamia canopy on an area of ​​more than 40 hectares. Although it is newly implemented and the effectiveness has not been evaluated, we are very hopeful that this will be a sustainable development direction with great potential for the forestry industry" - Director of Lo Ku Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. Doan Van Hoi said.

According to Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department Truong Thanh Ha, the western region of the province currently has nearly 650,700 hectares of forest. Of which, natural forest is nearly 478,700 hectares, planted forest is more than 158,700 hectares, newly planted forest is nearly 13,300 hectares... The large forest area, soil conditions of the area are quite suitable for developing medicinal plants in general and red lingzhi mushrooms in particular.

Recently, a number of enterprises and cooperatives have joined forces to grow Ganoderma lucidum under the forest canopy, initially showing high economic efficiency. This is a new direction in sustainable forestry development in the province.

In the coming time, the Department will coordinate with localities and enterprises to survey, build and replicate the model of growing red lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy. Thereby, it will create jobs and increase income for local people, while contributing to promoting the development of a green and sustainable forestry economy.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/trong-nam-linh-chi-do-duoi-tan-rung-huong-phat-trien-lam-nghiep-ben-vung-post564972.html