How grass from China is changing lives in Fiji

In Fiji, growing mushrooms was once considered impossible. However, a technology from Chinacalled Juncao, literally "mushroom grass," has made it feasible, providing Fijian farmers with a sustainable method to cultivate edible fungi without the need to cut down trees.

At the China-PacificIsland Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center, local farmers are learning this technique from the ground up. So far, the center has conducted 65 training sessions, training over 2,800 technicians, and is expanding its programs to other Pacific nations. For many farmers, Juncao cultivation means a steady income and new opportunities—sometimes earning up to 2,000 Fijian dollars a month.

In addition to improving livelihoods, Juncao is also aiding in the fight against soil erosion and in the restoration of degraded land. In this episode, South journalist Liu Xiaodi visits the China-PacificIsland Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center in Fiji to explore how this "grass from China"is transforming local lives.

Reported by Liu Xiaodi and Yuan Zixiang from Nadi, Fiji.

Script: Liu Xiaodi, Yuan Zixiang, Guo Zedong

Video Editing: Deng Yingheng

Video Shooting: Yuan Zixiang, Liu Xiaodi

Host & Voiceover: Liu Xiaodi

Poster: Deng Yingheng

Text: Liu Xiaodi

Editors: Ou Xiaoming, James Campion, Shen He