Market of Mushrooms in Urban Centres in Tanzania

摘要

Une étude sur les potentialités du marché des champignons sauvages a été menée dans les centres urbains de Dar es Salaam, Iringa et Morogoro. L'étude a été faite suivant un questionnaire administré aux gestionnaires de 115 institutions notamment des hôtels, restaurants de toutes catégories, cantines des établissements d'enseignement supérieur et les petits postes de vente de mets, communément appelés en swahili Mamantilie et gérés par les femmes. Nous avons noté que la totalité des hôtels touristiques servent des mets de champignons tandis que les autres hôtels et les petits postes de vente gérés par les femmes en consommaient moins de 2%. Alors que les champignons servis dans des hôtels étaient représentés par deux espèces exotiques cultivées, les champignons vendus par des femmes consistaient en un large éventail d'espèces indigènes dont la majorité poussent en symbiose avec l'écosystème des forêts de miombo.%The market potential of wild mushrooms was investigated in urban Dar es Salaam, Iringa and Morogoro. The study was based on a questionnaire administered to senior officers of 115 catering institutions including hotels, restaurants of various categories, cafeteria of high learning institutions and women-run food vending stations referred to in Swahili as Mamantilie. Mushroom consumption was observed in 100% of tourist hotels, less than 2 % of the other hotels, and in women-run local food-vending stations. While the mushrooms served in hotels consisted of only 2 exotic cultivated species, mushrooms reported to be served in food vending stations were native, wild and comprised of a large variety of species most of which living in a symbiotic relationship with the miombo ecosystem. According to the respondents, the lack of wild mushrooms in hotels and learning institutions was primarily due to the lack of guarantee for the safety and the unreliable supply which itself resulted from the fluctuating rainfall pattern. With regards to the purchase price, hotels acquired exotic mushrooms at about Tanzania Shillings (TAS) 3400/kg. Local vending stations procured 1 Kg of wild mushrooms from collectors at TAS 650/-. The fact that mushrooms served in tourist hotels were imported is a good indication of the mushroom market potential in Tanzania. Furthermore the large number of institutions not serving mushrooms are the future customers. Given the intimate association of wild mushrooms with natural forests, they are likely to be promoted in this period of environmental campaign and natural products. What is required for Tanzanian wild mushrooms to enter the urban and international market is to dispel fear from managers of catering institutions and other actual and potential customers.