HDI Bulletin
Handover of Japanese-Funded Equipment Launches Expanded Production
at the Mushroom Center in Quang Tri
June 6, 2013 - For Immediate Release
Cam Lo, Quang Tri (4 June 2013) – The Humpty Dumpty Institute and Project RENEW are pleased to announce the handover of equipment from the Government of Japan in support of the “Mushrooms with a Mission” (MwM) program in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. On June 4, in Cam Lo, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, Hideo Suzuki, of the Japanese Embassy officiated at a formal ceremony marking the handover. This state of the art mushroom production equipment for the MwM Mushroom Center in Cam Lo will enable HDI and Project RENEW to substantially increase the production of mushroom spawn bags for use by MwM farmers in Quang Tri Province. The grant of $123,000 has been used to purchase equipment including steam boxes, mushroom driers and HEPA filters, all necessary tools to more efficiently produce mushroom spawn and ready-to-fruit blocks for growing mushrooms. The equipment will play an important role as the program expands to include more farmers and make a significant contribution to the sustainability of mushroom farming in the region.
“Mushrooms with a Mission” empowers landmine survivors by providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to grow, market, and sell mushrooms and earn extra income to provide for their families. Mushroom growing is an ideal livelihoods activity for disabled survivors of UXO and landmine accidents. The program also benefits female heads of households and ethnic minorities.
A plaque in recognition of the new equipment was unveiled today at the Mushroom Center in Cam Hieu Commune by Mr. Hideo Suzuki of the Japanese Embassy and Mr. David Prettyman, Chief Strategic Officer of HDI. Also in attendance were Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Province People’s Committee, representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Science and Technology, and local representatives from Cam Lo, Dakrong, Gio Linh and Trieu Phong districts, as well as representatives of MwM farming families and staff of Project RENEW and HDI.
According to Ms. Jeanne Samuel, HDI Vietnam Country Director, “The Japanese-funded state-of-the-art production equipment will increase the production of mushroom blocks from 30,000 to more than 300,000 per month. It will allow expansion of Mushrooms with a Mission; increase local mushroom production; as well as funding more UXO and landmine removal.”
David Prettyman, Chief Strategic Officer of HDI, thanked the Government of Japan and the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi in particular adding, “HDI enthusiastically welcomes Japan as a strong supporter of Mushrooms with a Mission. As Japan has consistently been a critical leader in the fight against UXO and landmines worldwide, Japan’s contribution to the program is very considerable. Japan has made enormous investments in countries around the world to assist landmine survivors and to educate populations around the world about the dangers of landmines and UXO. Vietnam is no exception.”
Along with Japan, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United States are key funders of this project.