At dawn, in a shrimp farmhouse in the commune of Lich Hoi Thuong (Can Tho city), Nguyen Tien Dat (27) started his day harvesting black termite mushrooms to deliver to customers.
After finishing the mushroom harvest, he checked the environmental parameters on his phone, adjusting the cooling and misting systems to maintain the temperature between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius and humidity above 85%.
Dat has been working on this since early 2024 when he officially started operating his high-tech black termite mushroom cultivation model after a long period of testing.
Having earned three university degrees, a young woman from the Mekong Delta returned to her hometown to cultivate high-tech mushrooms. She graduated in control and automation technology (Can Tho University of Technology) at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and continued her studies in business administration (University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City) and high-tech agriculture (Van Lang University). After earning her degree, she worked for a pesticide company in her hometown.
However, Dat was troubled by his real-life experiences in a region heavily impacted by climate change, soil salinity, and acidity.
“The traditional farming methods are becoming increasingly precarious. I want to use the knowledge I have gained to build a new model that is less dependent on weather conditions and creates sustainable value right here in my hometown,” he said.
Dat’s mushroom cultivation model covers an area of 100 square meters and produces 8 to 10 kg of mushrooms per day.
In early 2024, Dat decided to experiment with cultivating black termite mushrooms on a 10 square meter surface with about 500 substrates. Due to imperfect techniques, each substrate produced less than 100 grams, compared to the usual 150 to 200 grams.
Undeterred, he continuously adjusted the process, shortening the harvest time from 6 months to 4 months to reduce costs, while quickly eliminating moldy embryos to prevent disease spread.
With initial financial support from his family, Dat transformed old warehouses into production units. The high-tech mushroom cultivation space, initially 30 square meters, later expanded to 100 square meters, divided into two sections. The majority of the investment was dedicated to an automated irrigation system and environmental monitoring equipment using IoT sensors (smart devices).
Through his smartphone, Dat can monitor and adjust factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 concentration simultaneously and in real-time. “The system updates data about every 5 minutes. This allows me to more precisely control the mushroom cultivation environment,” he explained.
According to the owner, the main difference from traditional mushroom cultivation lies in the proactive and stable approach. The cultivation environment is constantly monitored, reducing the risks of epidemics, ensuring uniform mushroom growth, and achieving a 30 to 40% higher yield.
Currently, Dat’s facility operates around 10,000 bags of mushroom mycelium, producing between 8 and 10 kg per day. With a selling price of 300,000 to 350,000 VND per kg, this model generates revenues of several tens of millions of VND each month.
After harvesting, the mushrooms are processed by workers and delivered to customers.
Not content with fresh mushrooms, Dat also invested in a freeze dryer to turn them into dried mushrooms. The drying process takes about 30 hours, preserving their shape and nutritional qualities. On average, 10 kg of fresh mushrooms yield 1 kg of dried mushrooms, sold at 3.6 million VND per kg.
Currently, the establishment’s two product lines, fresh black termite mushrooms and dried black termite mushrooms, have received 3-star OCOP certification and are sold in restaurants, markets, and e-commerce platforms.
According to Dat, modern agriculture today requires knowledge, technology, and business acumen, not just traditional farming.
“Young people, if truly passionate, dare to start from a young age, know how to use science and technology, and persist in their learning, can absolutely succeed. Do not be afraid to return to your hometown, as rural areas currently offer the greatest opportunities for modern agriculture and sustainable entrepreneurship,” he said.
Commenting on this model, Mr. Tu Hai Long, an official from the economic department of the commune of Lich Hoi Thuong, stated that Nguyen Tien Dat’s black termite mushroom cultivation model had been systematically studied and tested, producing clear economic benefits.
“Local authorities are coordinating with distribution units to support production while creating conditions for union members and youth to access cultivation techniques. Dat himself is very enthusiastic about sharing his experience and guiding youth who wish to engage in advanced agriculture,” Long said.
Source: Visit https://cms.vietnam.vn/manager_post/edit/a7788c2bf9554be083d0a6549de56495.
