The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is pushing forward the drive to put the mushroom production on a scientific and industrial basis, true to the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea to turn the country into a huge producer of mushroom.
The technology for cultivating pleurotus based on rice straw fermentation has been developed by scientists and researchers of Kim Il Sung University, the State Academy of Sciences and the Central Mushroom Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture.
After analyzing the physiochemical composition of rice straw and the biological characteristic of pleurotus, they settled sci-tech issues arising in the substrate fermentation, spore cultivation and cultivation of mushroom before putting pleurotus cultivation on an industrial basis.
They also manufactured rice straw cutter, sterilizer and other energy-saving equipment for mushroom production. New species of mushroom have been bred and the wastes of mushroom production recycled.
Previously North Korea has already stated several times about mushroom growing in the country. In recent years, Kim Jong Un has declared that his country wants to become a Mushroom Kingdom and in 2016 the country’s first major mushroom plant was set up in Pyongyang. This plant sets the standard for the industrialization of mushroom cultivation and establishes the foundation for providing the people with delicious mushrooms high in nutrition.
In North Korea, in 2014, North Korean scientists have developed a new sports drink made from mushrooms to boost athletic prowess, according to state media. This natural drink is very effective in enhancing physical ability of sportspersons and recovering from their fatigues – they said.
Source: KCNA
