Edible Mushroom- An Underutilized Good Income Generator Resource of Rural People from Villages of Durg District, Chhattishgarh, India

摘要

This study documents the use of an edible mushroom (EM) in rural areas and assesses its significance as a source of healthy food and income for the disadvantaged rural dwellers. The data was gathered through local market surveys and using a semi-structured interview and it involved 150 people comprised of EM collectors, traders and consumers. The collected data covered the information on where, how, when and who was the principal transmitter of the mycological knowledge learned and the general information on their market and values. Mushroom gathering is gender oriented, dominated by women. Women possess vast knowledge of mushroom folk taxonomy, biology and ecology and are therefore the principal knowledge transmitters. The knowledge is acquired andimparted by practices and is mostly transmitted vertically through family dissemination. The activity would also provide alternative employment, improve food security to rural disadvantaged groups especially women and old people hence improve their livelihood.