Myanmar is an agro-based country, thus agriculture also provides for the State's economy. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is providing ways and means to carry out agricultural works on an extensive scale.

It is learnt that success has been gained in the cultivation of medicinal and edible mushroom in Doe Kwin village in Pyin Oo Lwin Township, Mandalay Division.

Myanma Farms Enterprise has cultivated Ling Zhi mushrooms and Monkey Head mushrooms which are medicinal mushrooms such as Shiitake and Oyster have also been cultivated. For those who want to cultivate on a smaller scale, mushroom nurseries packets are sold at a reasonable price and courses are conducted, for those who wish to cultivate mushroom, systematically.

Monkey Head and Oyster mushrooms can be cultivated after putting mushroom species into the mushroom cultivating packets from (45) to (60) days. After one week, these mushrooms can be eaten. For shiitake mushroom, cultivating can begin (90) to (120) days after putting mushroom species into the packets, and can be eaten one week after it blooms.

Just like the Monkey Head and Oyster mushroom packets, they can be eaten (5) or (6) times.

Mushroom nursery packs can be placed horizontally or vertically where they can get good ventilation and avoid getting direct sunshine. The price of the mushroom nursery pack is very reasonable and produce good yield. Therefore, it is commercially feasible for commercial growers.

MRTV-3 went to mushroom plantation of Myanmar Farms Enterprise in Doe Kwin Village, Pyin Oo Lwin Township and inquired about their work.

U Thurein Naing, Supervisor, Doe Kwin Shiitake Mushroom Production said Mushroom cultivation was performed by Myanma Farms Enterprise at Pyin Oo Lwin since 1995. We are going to cultivate edible and medicinal mushroom and also manufacturing the medicine and distributed to the market.

The aim and objectives of mushroom cultivation are:

1. To utilize effectively the by-products and waste materials from agriculture farmland and industrial enterprise and to achieve financial benefit.

2. In nature, mushroom grows bloom only once in a year. With technical methods mushroom could be grown throughout the year and thus readily available in the market.

3. To fulfill the demand of the domestic market and to export to abroad in future.

We grow Shiitake, Oyster, and Jew's Ear mushroom for edible and Lingzhi and Monkey Head for medicinal purpose. Our department undertaken to disseminate the mushroom cultivation technology and spawns for the growers. We open the mushroom training courses by annually. We distributed the grain spawn bottle of some mushroom varieties.

In 2003-2004 financial year, we produced (60,000) bags of Monkey's Head and (15,000) bags of Shiitake mushroom. We obtained (2,030) kg of Monkey's Head mushroom and (515) kg of Shiitake mushroom respectively.

In this 2004-2005 financial year, we are going to produce (10,000) bags for Monkey's Head and (50,000) bags for Shiitake mushroom. So, we expect to get about (3,000) kg of Monkey's Head mushroom and (15,000) kg of Shiitake mushroom.

We, at the Myanma Farms Enterprise are cultivating edible mushrooms and medicinal Lingzhi mushrooms, scientifically. Therefore, mushrooms, which are grown naturally and appear only once a year, can now be abundantly consume all year round.

Moreover, people can also buy medicinal mushrooms at a reasonable price for their health. Besides, mushroom nurseries owners can get reasonable prices for their produce, and therefore they have increased income for their families.