Mushrooms as a Forest Based Rural Industry

M W A P Jayathilaka and Saman Kariyawasam
University of Peradeniya

The paper examines the role of mushrooms to assess its potential in peripheral forest communities using published secondary information. At present, the industry is not developed even though the people in these area consume mushroom as part of their diet as a nutritive food item. As a medicinal plant mushrooms have a potential for development. Villagers have identified most edible mushroom species and use simple techniques for processing. Some species of mushrooms are still underutilized due to lack of awareness and limited scientific information. Poisonous substances are found in some mushroom species using local techniques. The seasonality, deforestation, poor access to markets and lack of relevant information are some problems faced by the users which inhibit the expansion of the cultivation and judicious and sustainable harvesting of mushrooms from the forests. Research and development efforts into these major constraints may provide opportunities to use the forest more productively and also identify cultivars for domestication and economic exploitation

Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura,Sri Lanka. 1999. All rights reserved.