Money-spinning business of mushrooms

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.