Jiuchang villagers benefit from thriving local mushroom industry

Jiuchang villagers hold mushroom sticks in a greenhouse. [Photo/kaiyang.gov.cn]

Edible mushrooms planted in the village of Jiuchang, in Kaiyang county, have recently entered their harvest season.

Jiuchang planted a total of 250,000 sticks of mushrooms in its 112 greenhouses this spring.

According to Li Qun, manager of the village's mushroom base, one stick can produce at least 900 grams of mushrooms, and the total output this year is expected to reach 225,000 kilograms.

Jiuchang started to plant edible mushrooms in August 2018 using a total planting area measuring 110 mu (7.33 hectares).

Another two mushroom deep-processing factories and two cold storage areas were constructed as supporting facilities.

The fresh mushrooms are sold on local markets, while the remaining mushrooms undergo further processing and are sold outside Guizhou province.

The output value of local sales reaches 1 million yuan ($150,038) each year, with a further 1.25 million yuan earned through other channels.

Mushroom planting and processing have so far provided 30 full-time jobs for local residents.