“The typical output rate of black fungus is about 80%, whereas, unexpectedly, the figure of the “black, thick and round” breed developed by NEFU can reach as high as 95%. With the harvested black fungus, the annual profit of this year will be 50000 yuan.” Liang Zhenlong, secretary of the CPC committee of the Mongolia town of Tailai county, said in excitement.
The “black, thick and round” breed mentioned by Liang Zhenlong is referred to the NEFU program for the cultivation of black fungus designed and implemented with the purpose of relieving the impoverished situation of Tailai county, which utilizes the straws of crops as raw materials instead of wood bits, tackling the shortage of production ingredients of edible fungus as well as lowering the cost of production so as to accomplish the effect of cost saving and profit increment at the same time. This program is developed by the innovative team of edible fungus of the College of Forestry after 5 years of test and experiment and has already become a fully developed program which has achieved extensive plantation in other regions for 7 years. Zou Li, head of the team stated that since our initial aim is to relieve poverty, the tested and proven techniques should be given priority in practical plantation in an effort to prevent the impoverished households from suffering loss.
Despite the developed technique, there have been no breeders of black fungus in Tailai county before, thus lacking relevant factories and equipment. Consequently, since last year, Zou Li has guided the whole process of the cultivation of black fungus in the county in person, ranging from mixing ingredients, packaging, sterilizing, inoculating, fostering and cutting etc. During the period of around 1 year, 7 to 8 members of the team, including teachers and postgraduate students, have come to the county in turns. Moreover, one resident researcher has been sent there to observe the growth condition of the black fungus.
The county government also employs the 7 greenhouses previously set up by Shengli Mongolia town as the demonstration base for the breeding of edible fungus, creating a favorable condition for the growth of the black fungus.
Painstaking devotion is finally rewarded by a bumper harvest. Seeing the black fungus constantly growing on fungus sticks, Liang Zhenlong said excitedly: “In the past, the seven greenhouses were set up on saline-alkali soil, barren even with no blade of grass — whatever planted, all in vain. However, at present, 40000 fungus sticks have been placed in them, with the prospect of bringing at least 50000 yuan.”
“The vigorous growth of the ‘black, thick and round’ breed allows the farmers to obtain practical earnings. Gao Shulan, a sixty eight years old farmer, who planted 10 mu of cornfield with the annual average gross income of merely 4000 or 5000 yuan, but the cultivation of black fungus can elevate her income by 3000 to 4000 yuan each year. Gao Shulan, a simple and honest farmer, holding the air dried black fungus in both hands, said in great joy that “with this, we will no longer be subjected to poverty.
“This type of black fungus tastes thick and palatable, worth a high price undoubtedly. We are willing to buy all your supplies!” Presently, during the training session for the techniques of cultivating edible fungus held in Tailai county, the dealers from Jilin and Inner Mongolia have rushed to purchase the fungus.
According to the introduction of Fu Xiaodong, deputy magistrate of Tailai county and poverty relief personnel of NEFU, knowing the profit gained through the cultivation of black fungus by Shengli town, a number of villagers from other towns came expecting to obtain some useful cultivation skills. Next year, Tailai county intends to expand its breeding, endeavoring to significantly raise the amount of fungus sticks from 40000 to 100000.
