Journal Portal
Global Research Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences Vol.4(1) pp.6 –16 May 2013.
Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/grjabs
Copyright ©2013 Global Research Journals
Full Length Research.
Mushroom consumption habits of Wacha Kebele residents, southwestern Ethiopia
Teferi Yenealem1, Diriba Muleta2 and Delelegn Woyessa2*
1Kaffa Zone, Chena Woreda, Chena Primary School
2Jimma University, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology
2* Jimma University, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology,
*Author for correspondence: Email: delelegn.woyessa@ju.edu.et, naolwada@gmail.com
Phone: +251-1-911300406, Fax: +251 47 111 2214
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to assess mushroom consumption habit of Wacha Kebele residents. In this study 164 adult individuals (96 males & 68 females) were selected and used as information source in the study area. Data were collected from October 2009 to July 2010 by using structured open and close ended questionnaire, interview as well as personal observation. The result of the study indicated that most (93.29%) of the Kebele residents have awareness about mushroom consumption and its various benefits. Mushroom collection was mainly from forest followed by uncultivated land and termite nests and almost all family members (children, women and men) were involved in collection. However, none of the inhabitants was found to cultivate mushrooms due to various reasons, of which lack of awareness on possibility of cultivation was indicated by the majority (66.45%). All the inhabitants have also stated that the status of wild mushroom distribution has been sharply decreasing from time to time since the past two decades. From the current study, it can be concluded that though the majority of inhabitants in the study area like eating mushrooms and well aware about the current decrease in wild edible mushrooms, they have neither cultivated nor are aware about the possibility of cultivating mushroom, implying that there is an urgent need to initiate and create awareness among the inhabitants to adopt cultivation and conservation of such very important non-timber forest product in order to protect the decreasing status of the mushroom. Furthermore, such awareness and cultivation process could also be important to use the mushrooms for serving to diversify agricultural activity and supplement diet as well as income generation in the long run for the local farming community.
Keywords/phrases: Ethiopia, Forest-product, Mushrooms, Natural resource management, Wild edible fungi, Wacha Kebele