Wild mushrooms a vital source of livelihood for Upper Dir dwellers

DIR: Located about 260 kilometers northwest of Peshawar, the district of Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is known for production of wild mushrooms.

In the high-altitude areas of Dir, including Kohistan, Goldai, Doog Darra, Dubando, Hatan Darra, Barawal and Ashiri Darra, wild mushrooms grow in abundance during the spring season from March to May.Locally, these mushrooms are known as “gusi” and are a vital source of income for the people living in upper parts of the district.However, collecting mushrooms from the forests is a challenging task that requires hard work and luck. Despite the difficulties, many people rely on mushroom collection as a means of livelihood.

The demand for mushrooms has increased significantly over the years, and they are now sold at high prices in local and international markets. The price of mushrooms varies depending on the quality and quantity, but they can fetch up to 25,000 to 30,000 rupees per kilogram.

According to Yousuf Ali Shah, a resident of the area, mushrooms are a valuable commodity worldwide and are in high demand in international markets. Mushroom collection has become a significant source of income for many families in the area, and it is estimated that hundreds of families benefit from this business. However, the prices of mushrooms fluctuate depending on the demand and supply, and the middlemen often exploit the local collectors by paying them low prices.

The mushrooms are not only used as food but also have medicinal properties and are used in the production of various medicines. The high demand for mushrooms in international markets has led to an increase in their prices, making it a lucrative business for those involved in it.”Ihsanullah, a mushroom dealer, said that the demand for mushrooms has increased significantly over the years, and they are now sold at high prices in local and international markets.

Ihsanullah said that they sell the mushrooms to big dealers in big cities because there is no fixed rate for mushrooms and the dollar rate keeps changing, which affects the mushroom rate as well. Last year, he said, the price of mushrooms per kilogram went up to twenty to forty thousand, but later the rate dropped, causing losses for dealers like him. This year, the rate has gone up to twenty to twenty-six thousand, and big dealers buy and export them to foreign countries.

Mushrooms are used as food in big hotels, wedding halls, and homes in European countries, and are also used by pharmaceutical companies to make medicines. Local traders buy mushrooms according to their financial capacity, some buy one thousand kilograms, some fifty, one hundred, or two thousand kilograms, depending on how much money they have.

Medical experts say that the use of mushrooms dates back centuries, especially in Asia. In Asian countries, including Pakistan’s northern mountainous regions, Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka, mushrooms were commonly consumed. However, in Europe, Greece was one of the countries where mushrooms were widely used, and medical researchers and scientists are now using them to make medicines for various diseases, including cancer, and to boost the immune system.