Mushroom growing in Central and Northeastern Thailand: Fungi Farms
One of the primary schools I am teaching at (Wat Kan Jan Jarern) has a little mushroom house โรงเรือนเพาะเห็ด that the students grow and sell oyster เห็ดนางฟ้า and white fungi เห็ดหูหนู mushrooms. I had a look inside and took 5 pics with my mobile phone before my bat ran out.
Seemed like they had a simple yet effective set up. The house was nothing more than a jungle shack to create a dark humid area. The system seems simple enough. They buy ready made spore cylinder packs wrapped and kept together by thick plastic shaped into somewhat like a bottle where the end has a narrow opening where mushrooms can sprout. But first they must add fresh lumber chips and dust, a prime ingredient for cultured Oyster (similar to Shiitake) mushrooms.
The packs are stacked up and hanging all around in the small 20 feet by 10 feet or so shack which is rigged with small pvc pipes and sprinkler watering system. What is interesting is the sprinklers are supplied with organism rich canal water via a bicycle powered pump drawing water from the canal or klong at its side.
With the exception of the clear plastic holding the spore and sawdust mix together, everything is a completely natural and sustainable circle.
I was able to gather that one of these cylinder of spore things cost some 4 baht and can produce mushrooms daily for up to 5-6 months when the spores have expired / exhausted their fertility, of which the used up spore and lumber chip-dust mix is added to a compost pile of dried grass and manure for other agricultural projects.
Having a look at the calendar, the students only form of record keeping, I observed that lately the house has been producing 3 to 5 kilograms per day, though the productivity apparently is best in the hot season for its ideal humid conditions.
Students can sell the mushrooms at approximately 20-25 baht per kilogram locally�though in larger city markets, the price is higher by about 10-15 baht.
Coincidentally and not particularly related, I�ve recently been in correspondence with an associate in
Ironically, I hated mushrooms as a kid�didn�t want them on pizza, casserole, and soups, but the more I learn, the more open I am to the idea of indulging in fungi. Hail to the power of Knowledge!
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December 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
It was interesting to learn that many Thai mushroom farmers who produce straw mushrooms don’t even use straw, but rice bran instead as its easier to come by, apparently less preparation and more food value than straw, thought the factuality of such claims-beliefs is as of yet unconfirmed.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
mushroom colvation
April 21st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Re: Mushroom growing.
Loved the article but would like to know more, especially where the school was located and where they bought the mushroom spores. Hope you can help. I am seeking information for a proposed venture in Udon Thani.
Regards
Clancy Tucker
April 21st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
the particular school mentioned above is actually in Samut Songkhram province in central Thailand, about an hour east of Bkk.
I think they get their major agricultural supply, particularly the spores, from Ratchaburi province which is the next province north, not so far away from the school.