189
11.3.5.1 Strengths
• Rice straw in the MRD is abundant without any specific utilization. About
40–80% of the rice straw in the MRD is still burned, especially in three rice cropping systems.
• Available mushroom growers, input suppliers and RSM buyers (straw and spore
suppliers, transporters, wholesalers, retailers) with long experience working in
the RSM subsector for 10–30 years. They will be valuable resources in supporting the expansion of the value chains.
11.3.5.2 Weaknesses
• Small-scale and individual mushroom production and trade that hinder mushroom growers, input suppliers and traders from engaging in large orders for
mushroom products with specific and strict quality requirements.
• Low economic return and risky business due to low adoption of advanced techniques and technologies from production to transportation of fresh mushroom.
• Few linkages among RSM actors.
• Low quality of input supplies (straw and spores).
11.3.5.3 Opportunities
• High demand for RSM in both domestic and processed markets, especially the
demand for safe, healthy and convenient products.
• The Vietnamese government supports the expansion of the RSM subsector and
has issued policies and directions for its development.
• The availability of new technologies supporting the RSM subsector (production,
transportation, and preservation).
11.3.5.4 Threats
• Increasingly strict technical requirements and standards in export markets as the
latter have shifted from low-income (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) to high-income
markets (United States, Europe, Japan).
• Rising costs of straw, labor, and land.
11.3.5.5 Recommended Strategies to Upgrade RSM Value Chains
in the MRD
From the SWOT analysis (Table 11.1), two recommended strategies to upgrade
RSM value chains in the MRD are summarized below.
11 Rice Straw Value Chains and Case Study on Straw Mushroom in Vietnam’s…
11.3.5.1 Strengths
• Rice straw in the MRD is abundant without any specific utilization. About
40–80% of the rice straw in the MRD is still burned, especially in three rice cropping systems.
• Available mushroom growers, input suppliers and RSM buyers (straw and spore
suppliers, transporters, wholesalers, retailers) with long experience working in
the RSM subsector for 10–30 years. They will be valuable resources in supporting the expansion of the value chains.
11.3.5.2 Weaknesses
• Small-scale and individual mushroom production and trade that hinder mushroom growers, input suppliers and traders from engaging in large orders for
mushroom products with specific and strict quality requirements.
• Low economic return and risky business due to low adoption of advanced techniques and technologies from production to transportation of fresh mushroom.
• Few linkages among RSM actors.
• Low quality of input supplies (straw and spores).
11.3.5.3 Opportunities
• High demand for RSM in both domestic and processed markets, especially the
demand for safe, healthy and convenient products.
• The Vietnamese government supports the expansion of the RSM subsector and
has issued policies and directions for its development.
• The availability of new technologies supporting the RSM subsector (production,
transportation, and preservation).
11.3.5.4 Threats
• Increasingly strict technical requirements and standards in export markets as the
latter have shifted from low-income (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) to high-income
markets (United States, Europe, Japan).
• Rising costs of straw, labor, and land.
11.3.5.5 Recommended Strategies to Upgrade RSM Value Chains
in the MRD
From the SWOT analysis (Table 11.1), two recommended strategies to upgrade
RSM value chains in the MRD are summarized below.
11 Rice Straw Value Chains and Case Study on Straw Mushroom in Vietnam’s…