In Tibet, a graduate spurns govt job, plants mushrooms

Cultivating the mushrooms by imitating wild conditions can raise yields. He received technical support from a successful local mushroom planter in the county.

Now, two of his fellow villagers work permanently in his greenhouses. He also hires temporary staff to work there when in need of labor. Each worker receives a salary of 150 yuan per day.

Samtan expects a net income of more than 10,000 yuan in April with his first harvest. A local mushroom company has promised him to help him to do the selling. He also plans to invite an internet celebrity to help with promotion.

According to the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau of Nyingchi, the city that governs Samtan's county, there were 1,925 college graduates last year seeking various jobs, including 440 who found jobs in the public sector, 870 in the marketplace and 39 who started their own businesses.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, the employment rate of college graduates in the Tibet autonomous region hovered around 95 percent, and the rate of market employment and entrepreneurship hit more than 70 percent, Tibet Daily reported.

"At first, my parents were not supportive of my business dream. But with mushrooms sprouting in the greenhouses these days, they are no longer worried or unsupportive. Now they call me to check on my progress, and they remind me to take good care of the plantation every day," he said.