An underestimated crop proves to be profitable for villagers in Gui'an New area, Southwest China's Guizhou province.
According to the area's three-year plan, villagers began to plant mushrooms to boost the economy. "Villagers used to grow corn and rice and only earn some 1,000 or 2,000 yuan for each mu (0.07 hectare)," said Zheng Ruhong, head of Xinyuan village in Gui'an New Area.
Now Xinyuan village has a two-mu greenhouse, estimated to generate around 400,000 yuan each year. "It was inconceivable," said Zheng, "that this is attributed to the adjustment of agricultural structure."
Despite the disbelief of some, the government of Gui'an New Area has invested over four million yuan ($604,400) in the edible fungi industry so far, building 36 greenhouses and encouraging farmers to plant mushrooms rather than just rice and corn to increase rural incomes.
These actions were a part of the three-year plan (2017–2019) developed to adjust the agriculture structure. Promoting local featured agricultural products, villages such as Machang and Gaofeng are major assets in the plan.
Since the plan's inception, data shows that the mushroom program launched by Gui'an New Area has benefited 1,880 people and 515 households and increased the income of 138 low-income families. The area has also set up mushroom-growing cooperatives to expand the planting area of edible fungi to 60 mu.
Gui'an New Area will further offer policy and financial support to boost the development of the industry. This would encourage standardized production and the building of local brands to promote the healthy and rapid development of the mushroom industry.
