In the past few years, mushroom growing sub-sector in Ninh Binh has emerged and developed with a rapid pace due to increasing demand for fresh and processed mushroom from domestic and international markets. Statistics from the province reveals that the sector has involved over 6000 households in 8 districts of the province especially in Yen Khanh district. Ninh Binh Cooperative Alliance has been active in linking actors in the mushroom value chain through provision of support for the formation of farmer groups, mushroom associations in the past 2 years. It has lobbied with local authorities for supporting mushroom sub sector and other support for processing businesses as well as promotiong of the products. Taking the huge market potential and its suitability with Ninh Binh context, Ninh Binh Cooperative Alliance submits a value chain development proposal to further develop the mushroom value as a promising sub sector for poverty reduction.

Although Ninh Binh Cooperative Alliance (NBCA) is a new partner organisation for Agriterra, this cooperative alliance from the Ninh Binh province has been working with SNV in Vietnam. It is because of the partnership between Agriterra and SNV that Agriterra received this proposal. NBCA is the provincial chapter of the VCA and has local cooperatives and enterprises as members; a total of 285 member organisations, of which 134 agricultural cooperatives.