THE ROLE OF MUSHROOMS COLLECTION ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES' LIVELIHOODS AROUND KALINJU CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE IN BUSHENYI DISTRICT

Description

The study was focused on the contribution of mushrooms to the livelihoods and food security of local forest adjacent communities. It was undertaken in 3 villages namely; Kayanga, Masonga and Kayembe villages in Kalinju parish, Kyamuhunga Sub County. The objectives of the study were to assess the contribution of mushrooms to household food security, to assess the socioeconomic factors affecting harvesting and marketing of mushrooms and to assess the mushroom commodity chain around Kalinju central forest reserve. Data was collected using a questionnaire, observations, interviews and informal discussions. It was then analyzed using, a Statistical Package of Social Scientist (SPSS 16.0) program. Descriptive statistics was used to generate tables and frequencies, cross tabulations and chi square tests were carried out to characterize who were the respondents mostly involved mushroom collection, preservation and selling, the study found out that About 40% of the respondents collected mushrooms to earn an income, both men and women were involved in mushroom collection, the majority of mushroom collectors were subsistence farmers 60% mushrooms sell them to nearby markets, 43% of respondents salted or sundried the mushrooms as preservation methods, 82% reported that mushrooms were collected during wet season and 40% of the respondents reported that they seek permission to harvest mushrooms from NFA. All social, economic and demographic factors in the study significantly affect mushroom harvesting to improve the livelihoods and food security of forest adjuscent communities. The respondents reported that here should be mushroom training institute to train and equip women with advanced knowledge on how mushrooms are collected, used and sold to generate income and preserved for future use and to ease transportation.