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Shiitake mushroom business in full bloom in Kalinkovichi District

KALINKOVICHI DISTRICT, 17 August (BelTA) – The profitability of the ex-USSR’s only enterprise to grow shiitake mushrooms is over 20%. The mushrooms are grown by the enterprise Vostok, Kalinkovichi District, Gomel Oblast, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko was told as he visited the enterprise on 17 August. Vostok Director Dmitry Korzh said that shiitake mushrooms can be used to make various products, including ketchups and sauces, which are in great demand. The production and processing of vegetables and mushrooms using locally available raw materials as well as import substitution were in the center of attention during the visit of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the enterprise Vostok. The head of state was made familiar with the technologies used to grow and tin mushrooms and vegetables. Alexander Lukashenko examined an exhibition of the tinned products made in Gomel Oblast. The enterprise Vostok grows about 30 kinds of vegetables using 435 hectares of land. The enterprise boasts a modern potato storage facility with the capacity of 20,000 tonnes. It is fitted with contemporary lines for follow-up revision and pre-sales preparation of products. The shiitake and oyster mushrooms the enterprise grows are tinned and dried here. The facility can process 2.5 million conventional jars of tinned products per annum. The enterprise can also process them, including fermentation and pickling. The enterprise has deployed a proprietary chain of stores. In H1 2012 the enterprise Vostok earned Br45.2 billion. Profit totaled Br2.4 billion, with the profitability of sales at 5.3%. Alexander Lukashenko was informed that as much as 18,300 tonnes of vegetables had been procured all over Belarus, or over 38% of the target, for the sake of industrial processing. Mushrooms are grown in all the oblasts of Belarus. This year mushroom production has increased. In particular, in January-July 2012 as much as 1,500 tonnes of mushrooms was produced, including 47 tonnes in Gomel Oblast. Last year as much as 7,600 tonnes of wild-growing mushrooms was procured, with 3,200 tonnes processed and 4,100 tonnes of chanterelle mushrooms exported. With more mushrooms produced, the range of tinned vegetable products grows bigger, less is imported, more is exported, and therefore, the expansion of industrial mushroom production is viewed as a vital area in the development of the Belarusian tinned vegetable industry. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko spoke positively about the operation of the Vostok enterprise. He underlined the practice should be extended in other regions of the country. The practice should be used to establish relevant manufacturing, processing, storing, and sales of vegetable products. “All the oblasts should be encouraged to build such centers to store and process such products,” demanded the head of state.

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