188
11.3.4.3 Little Support for Strengthening Capacity
There is little support from external actors to strengthen the capacity of internal
actors in RSM value chains. The main external actors, including local extension
officers, researchers and financial providers, are not active in conducting and accelerating RSM-related research, technology transfer, and financial support to the
value chain actors.
11.3.5 SWOT Analysis
We conducted a SWOT analysis to identify upgrading strategies for RSM value
chains and explore opportunities for expanding the value chain subsector to divert
the use of available rice straw in the MRD from burning to more value-added
income opportunities. Table 11.1 provides a summary of the analysis.
Table 11.1 SWOT analysis of RSM value chain in MRD
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses
1. Available straw in
the MRD is abundant
1. Small-scale mushroom
production and trading
2. Available mushroom
growers, input
suppliers and buyers
with experience
2. Low economic return and
risky business
3. Few linkages among
RSM actors
4. Low quality of input
supplies
Opportunities
S-O strategies
O-W strategies
1. High demand for both fresh
and processed mushroom from
domestic and export markets
Expand the mushroom
subsector in both size
and quality
1. Improve the efficiency of
the RSM subsector.
2. Support from the
Vietnamese government to
expand the RSM subsector
2. Improve linkages among
mushroom actors to improve
efficiency, quality, and scale
3. New technologies to
improve the performance of
RSM value chains
Threats
S-T strategies
W-T strategies
1. Increasing technical
restrictions from export
markets
Improve the quality
governance and
efficiency of RSM
value chains
Control and improve the
quality of input supplies as
well as mushroom products
and value chain processes.
2. Higher cost of straw, labor
and land
M. Demont et al.