Bumper harvest of Guiyang SOE's mushrooms 'rescued' amid dire weather

Workers pick rare edible mushrooms (Dictyophora rubrovolvata) that are almost mature so they can be protected from the elements and moved to a shed. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

A planting base for rare edible mushrooms (dictyophora rubrovolvata) spanning 200-mu (13 hectares) and operated by the State-owned Guiyang Vegetable Basket Group was harvested recently, as the mushrooms were ripe to be plucked from the earth.

"Recently, there has been a lot of rain, so the quality of the Dictyophora rubrovolvata naturally produced in the forest will be negatively affected. As such, we collect those that are nearly mature and place them inside a shed where the humidity and lighting is better controlled. This will guarantee they can still reach their best quality," said Yao Maoguo, a technician at the base.

The mushrooms are almost ripe and ready for collection. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Since July, the base has been producing mushrooms and selling them at local markets. It will continue to do so until the end of October.

Li Xingju has been working at the base since it opened in March. "We clean up the dirt on the fruiting mushrooms and put them in foam boxes so we can transport them to the point of sale," she said.

The cleaned up mushrooms (Dictyophora rubrovolvata) are packed into boxes for sale. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

The group has adopted the cooperative development model of "State-owned enterprises + village collective economic organizations + farmers".

The local government is responsible for developing the main planting area, whereas the State-owned forest farm provides the land. Guiyang Vegetable Basket Group provides the fungus sticks, technical services and minimum purchase.

This model has promoted the active participation of village collectives, farmer households, and surrounding labor forces, achieving multiple benefits.

In addition to the 200-mu base, the group has played a leading role in planting 2,500 mu of these prized mushrooms all over the city. This is expected to yield more than 150 kilograms per mu, with an output value in excess of 12,000 yuan ($1,664) per mu, driving the rural employment of more than 540 people in the surrounding area, and representing an annual per capita increase of 10,000 yuan in local people's incomes.