May is a busy time for harvesting and processing Sanlu. When Jin Lebi, general manager of Pengzhou Jinlu Sanzhen Food Stuff Co., Ltd. received the membership application form for Sichuan Provincial Mushroom Association, she was very excited. “I have just participated in the agribusiness training module developed by Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets (SFAGM) project after a few months and can’t believe I got so many good ideas. I used to be very confused about the future of my company. Now I am very clear what I am going to do and how to expand my business! The SFAGM project is really a great help to me.” In March 2005, she received the business management training for small and medium agri-food enterprises (SME) in Mianyang, Sichuan Province and learned that a hard-working attitude is not enough to deal with the fierce market competition and agri-food firms must have a clear development strategy as well as strengthen the relationship with outside world. They used to export their primarily processed product to Japan through a middle agent, who takes away a large portion of the profit. After the training, she registered her company at Alibaba Foodstuff Trading website immediately, she is also going to check on some other websites to learn more about the market information and use the internet to promote her company. In addition, Jin Lebi participated in a business forum between German and Chinese Agri-food companies in Chengdu, this is something she would never dream of before. Her mushroom sample products were well received in the exhibition during the forum and she might get a chance to do business with German companies. Since then, she really wanted to be a member of the Mushroom Association so that she can get more information about business opportunities and make my company better known by others. She didn’t expect SFAGM project could help me to realize my dream so soon!

Through the training, She starts realizing it is important to pay attention on corporate culture. For example, she now better understand the indispensable relations between farmers and the company. If she wants to expand the business, the quality reputation of her products is a key. In order to guarantee the quality and safety status of products, she has to help farmer suppliers to know more about the production technology and food quality & safety criteria. This is why she donated a computer to the agricultural extension station in Aoping Township and also sent some of her staff to participate in the computer training course organized by SFAGM project at Sichuan University. They hope the farmers can benefit from the modern technology and learn more market information and production knowledge.

The help from SFAGM is very tangible. Another good example is the composting experiment. The SFAGM project experts taught them how to make organic fertilizer from the residue of Sanlu processing like hemlock parsley stalk residue and mushroom dregs. This technology application can reduce environmental pollution; lower farmer’s production cost for fertilizer, improves the soil fertility and enhances the food quality. She hopes the farmers can increase their awareness of environmental protection through such kind of training.

“Thanks to the project, now I have a clear idea where the company is heading for. We want to establish our own production base, train the farmers, expand the export business and build our own brand name. I hope the project can continue to help me realize these dreams.” Jin said.

Thinking of the bright future of her company, Mdm. Jin the general manager couldn’t help smiling pleasantly.