Smart recycled agriculture boosts mushroom industry in Hechi

The Sangzhi Edible Mushroom Smart Cloud Cabin Base in Shangping village, Desheng township, Yizhou district of Hechi city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region celebrated its first harvest of yellow boletus mushrooms. Workers efficiently moved through the temperature- and humidity-controlled cabins, engaging in picking, sorting, and packing activities, creating a bustling scene.

Workers pick yellow bolete mushrooms. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

The base has seven standardized smart cloud cabins, cold storage, and power supply facilities, impacting the management of 133 hectares of core mulberry fields. It has innovatively developed a green circular model by recycling mulberry branches, previously discarded, to create mushroom substrates.

This approach effectively addresses the acclimatization challenges of non-native mushroom species and transitions the mushroom industry from common to rare high-end varieties, shifting the focus from quantity to quality and efficiency. Thus, discarded mulberry branches have become lucrative "golden sticks".

The yellow boletus, sourced from Southwest China's Yunnan province and favored in the high-end domestic market, grows in meticulously controlled environments.

According to base manager Wei Zhenjie, fresh yellow boletus fetch 12.5 yuan ($1.8) per kilogram, while dried ones can command up to 60 yuan, with a growth cycle of just 10 to 15 days per batch. Each cabin can accommodate 2,600 to 5,000 mushroom bags.

Looking ahead, Hechi aims to amplify the industry's impact, fostering mutual growth between the silkworm and mushroom sectors, and injecting robust momentum into comprehensive rural vitalization.