Lingzhi mushrooms grown in Quang Nam province are known for their medicinal properties, which has led to people overharvesting them in the wild and putting pressure on the natural ecosystem. One way to reduce this pressure is to locally grow the mushrooms. However, until recently, local communities lacked cultivation skills to grow these mushrooms in their homes. To address this and reduce wild mushroom collection, the USAID Green Annamites project collaborated with the Quang Nam Lingzhi Company (QN Lingzhi Co.) to strengthen local communities’ mushroom cultivation and harvesting techniques, set up a Lingzhi growing house, and establish 19 Lingzhi growing collaborative groups with 182 members (nearly 50 percent are female).

From June 10-15, all groups signed purchasing agreements with the company which will provide lower-cost mushroom embryos; training and technical guidance on mushroom cultivation and establishing mushroom production houses; and irrigation system installation. The company also committed to buying all qualified mushrooms produced by the collaborative groups.

So What? USAID Green Annamites’ support to QN Lingzhi Co. is improving the sustainable harvesting of Lingzhi mushrooms, reducing pressure on natural ecosystems, improving local communities’ mushroom cultivation skills, and supporting improved livelihoods through the establishment of purchasing agreements with producers.