Tibetan fungus gatherers obliged to find steady jobs

More ethnic Tibetans in western China have been forced to find new ways of making ends meet, as the caterpillar fungus that was once a staple of their income, has become increasingly rare.

Found only at high-altitude, the fungus, known in China as "winter-worm summer-grass," reputedly has cancer fighting properties and boosts the immune system. Once a cash cow for Tibetans, overexploitation has meant that the fungus is harder and harder to find, so the former fungus gatherers are looking for new ways to make a living.

Tsering Drolma from Aba County in Sichuan Province has just found a job at a mushroom farm near her home. Her husband is learning to build greenhouses at the same farm. The fungus had been a major source of income for the couple. May and June were the best season for their treasure hunt, when they could earn as much as 40,000 yuan (about 6,000 U.S. dollars) in two months. Now she earns 140 yuan a day.

In Tsering Drolma's neighborhood, farms have been built to create jobs. "We have more choices other than looking for the 'grass' in the mountains," she said.

The new jobs pay less, but they bring stability and a year-round income.

"The fungi have gotten harder to dig and my eyes are not that good any more. I'd like a stable job to settle down," said Yeshe, 39, now a farm driver.

Mushrooms grown on the high plateau area are organic and highly prized. "Our mushrooms ripen later than those from lower altitude farms, so we can guarantee they are sold at a premium," said Li Bo, accountant at the Minxing Mushroom Company.

The company has hired 140 local people and has plans to expand. It provides spores and training for farmers who want to set up their own businesses.

In order to protect the plateau and help farmers increase their earnings, Aba County government has plans for businesses in high-altitude vegetable farming, mushroom growing, yak and Tibetan pig raising. More than 60 big farms are planned to open in 2016. Endi