187
In order to expand RSM production for the fresh market, extension workers
should engage more with other agents to improve productivity and value-added
by speeding up the transfer of production, trading, and processing technologies.
Transporters and collectors could increase their role and strengthen their links
with mushroom growers and local wholesalers. Otherwise, transport should be
integrated into wholesalers’ business models leading to fewer intermediaries in
the value chain with stronger linkages (“dis-intermediation”; see Reardon et al.
2014; Reardon 2015).
To expand the processed-RSM market, processors need to further explore the
demand for processed products in the domestic and overseas markets. Moreover,
the expansion of both the fresh and processed-RSM markets requires collaboration and linkages between agents to govern the traceability and quality of inputs
(straw and spore), straw mushroom-growing practices (increase productivity and
safety) and preprocessing and processing procedures (safe and good practices) to
meet increasingly strict market requirements. More research on the demand of
new products and consumer behavior in export markets will help expanding
those markets.
11.3.4 Constraints of RSM Value Chains
11.3.4.1 Low Economic Returns and High Risks
The first constraints in RSM value chains are the low economic returns and high
risks involved in the business. In the domestic fresh-RSM market, growers generate
the highest value-added along the fresh-RSM value chain; however, they receive
lower daily profits compared to other actors. Growers are applying traditional methods to produce RSM (open-field practices). This leads to low yields, high investment costs, and environmental risks. Fresh mushroom is not preserved properly
during transportation from production sites to end-markets, leading to high damage
and shorter shelf-life of products.
11.3.4.2 Lack of Linkages among Actors
This is one of the main challenges in most agricultural value chains in developing
countries (Reardon et al. 2014; Reardon 2015). Processors are facing increasingly
strict export requirements; but as they do not have reliable contract-based links with
preprocessors, mushroom growers and input supplies, it is difficult for them to govern the traceability and quality of RSM production processes. From the perspective
of the growers, since they are not strongly linked to input suppliers and traders, they
are not well-informed about the characteristics and quality of the rice straw and the
spawn that they use. Thus, it is difficult for growers to ensure quality inputs and,
hence, govern product quality.
11 Rice Straw Value Chains and Case Study on Straw Mushroom in Vietnam’s…
In order to expand RSM production for the fresh market, extension workers
should engage more with other agents to improve productivity and value-added
by speeding up the transfer of production, trading, and processing technologies.
Transporters and collectors could increase their role and strengthen their links
with mushroom growers and local wholesalers. Otherwise, transport should be
integrated into wholesalers’ business models leading to fewer intermediaries in
the value chain with stronger linkages (“dis-intermediation”; see Reardon et al.
2014; Reardon 2015).
To expand the processed-RSM market, processors need to further explore the
demand for processed products in the domestic and overseas markets. Moreover,
the expansion of both the fresh and processed-RSM markets requires collaboration and linkages between agents to govern the traceability and quality of inputs
(straw and spore), straw mushroom-growing practices (increase productivity and
safety) and preprocessing and processing procedures (safe and good practices) to
meet increasingly strict market requirements. More research on the demand of
new products and consumer behavior in export markets will help expanding
those markets.
11.3.4 Constraints of RSM Value Chains
11.3.4.1 Low Economic Returns and High Risks
The first constraints in RSM value chains are the low economic returns and high
risks involved in the business. In the domestic fresh-RSM market, growers generate
the highest value-added along the fresh-RSM value chain; however, they receive
lower daily profits compared to other actors. Growers are applying traditional methods to produce RSM (open-field practices). This leads to low yields, high investment costs, and environmental risks. Fresh mushroom is not preserved properly
during transportation from production sites to end-markets, leading to high damage
and shorter shelf-life of products.
11.3.4.2 Lack of Linkages among Actors
This is one of the main challenges in most agricultural value chains in developing
countries (Reardon et al. 2014; Reardon 2015). Processors are facing increasingly
strict export requirements; but as they do not have reliable contract-based links with
preprocessors, mushroom growers and input supplies, it is difficult for them to govern the traceability and quality of RSM production processes. From the perspective
of the growers, since they are not strongly linked to input suppliers and traders, they
are not well-informed about the characteristics and quality of the rice straw and the
spawn that they use. Thus, it is difficult for growers to ensure quality inputs and,
hence, govern product quality.
11 Rice Straw Value Chains and Case Study on Straw Mushroom in Vietnam’s…