Money-spinning business of mushrooms

By Singgir Kartana

YOGYAKARTA (JP): A wild plant, the thin dark-brown ear-shaped tree-bark fungus locally known as jamur kuping appears often on the surface of decayed and damp wood. As not many people know its real benefit, and as the fungus itself tends to cause damage, it is usually removed as soon as it is found growing on household appliances.

To the people in Umbulharjo village, Sleman, Yogyakarta, and also in other areas on the slope of Mount Merapi, however, this fungus is an excellent agricultural commodity, and its cultivation in these villages is being intensified.

In Cangkringan, Gambretan and Ngipiksari hamlets, which are part of Umbulharjo -- fungus farming is being undertaken by almost every household.

In these three hamlets, there are many warehouse-like fungus houses or places where it is grown. The smallest is five meters by 12 meters. In most cases, the upper part of a fungus house is made of plaited bamboo, while its lower part is made of plastic. This combination is believed to be able to maintain the necessary humidity needed for growth.

Fungus spores are developed in plastic bags known as polybags and are arranged in very close proximity to one another on a shelf. The tips of the polybags face sideward as this is believed to be an easy way to speed up growth.

Why has fungus cultivation spread easily in Umbulharjo?

To Pak Triyanto, a fungus grower from Gambretan, the fungus business is very profitable. Just imagine, with capital of about Rp 2.5 million for the purchase of one package containing 4,680 polybags, the gross harvest output may reach Rp 46.8 million. A fantastic figure, indeed.

"The price of spores per polybag is Rp 520. One package will cost about Rp 2.4 million, including transportation costs.

"When grown, one polybag of spores may be harvested 6 times, with the output being about 0.5 kg of dried fungus. The first harvest is conducted about 75 days after the spores are planted. The price per kilogram is between Rp 20,000 and Rp 21,000. So, the net profit is about 20 times the initial capital," Triyanto said.

This fungus is good for cooking and also for making into a type of chip to be eaten as a snack. These fungus chips are available at a number of supermarkets in Yogyakarta at Rp 2,400 per one-ounce packet.

The villagers usually sell their products through their own cooperative, Lancar (Smooth Sailing) Fungus Cooperative, or the Center for Horticultural Master Seedlings in Ngipiksari. They can also sell their products directly to consumers.

The spore center and the cooperative also provide fungus growers with counseling about fungus growing and distribute spores to the growers. Fungus-based products are marketed both domestically, for example in Bandung, Bali and Surabaya, and abroad, including to Singapore and Hong Kong.

For two years now, growing jamur kuping has become a quite serious business undertaking. The cultivation of jamur kuping was pioneered by the seedling center in Ngipiksari, Sleman. Cooperating with Taiwan, the center, which is a state agency, has undertaken research into fungus growing and has shared the results with the local farmers. At present, it is the only agency that can supply jamur kuping spores. In terms of distribution, it is assisted by the cooperatives.

"In fact, our fungus growers can grow spores by themselves. But, of course, they don't have enough money and equipment to supply large quantities. The materials used in making the spores are actually very simple. A polybag is filled in with sawdust mixed with bran and a little lime and then put into it some fungi or spore powder," Triyanto said.

Cultivating this particular fungus is not too complicated. You need only a yard where you can set up a fungus house. When this is ready, polybags are placed inside, arranged on shelves. The polybags are checked everyday to ensure that the humidity remains appropriate for growth. If the weather is hot, spray some water on the polybags. Growing fungus does not need any fertilizer.

The biggest foes to fungi are only rain and heat. The only disease that the growers often come across is the "yellow disease". The symptoms can be detected by looking at the color of the tip of the polybag. If it is dark yellow, it means that the disease has infected the fungus. Diseased polybags must be separated immediately from other polybags. If necessary, the diseased polybag must be burned.

It is interesting to note the development of fungus cultivation in Sleman. Farmers from other regions may take up this undertaking. Unfortunately, some institutions related to this industry do not seem open to outsiders wishing to get information about it. The Jakarta Post and some other reporters needed a permit for an interview from the head of Yogyakarta Food Crop Agricultural Service before being able to get the necessary information from the center. One must pay Rp 15,000 if one wishes to have a discussion on fungi with the personnel of the Lancar Cooperative, which is located on Merapi Golf Road, Umbulharjo. The fee announcement is on the front door of the building housing the cooperative.