EVALUATION OF MUSHROOM CONSUMPTION IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study evaluate mushroom consumption in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Using 50%, 6, 5, and 5 wards were randomly selected from Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas respectively.A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select the communities in the wards of the LGAs which questionnaires were distributed. A total of 300 was distributed and 250 were retrieved and 53.6% of the respondents ate mushroom, 17.6% did not eat mushroom while 28.8% ate mushroom occasionally. The source of mushroom were personal sourcing from the wild (38.4%), buying from the market (61.6%). Also about 66.8% said they can recognize edible mushroom. Results also shows that 38.4% ate mushroom because it is nutritious and 14.8% consume mushroom for it medical purpose. Based on the findings 38.4% consumed mushroom because of its nutritive and medicinal value. The respondents were aware of its nutritive and medicinal values. The results showed that rapid loss of forest (40.8%) was the major problem mitigating the availability of mushroom in the study area.  Intensified training and awareness should be provided to the populace on domestication of mushroom by Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). Based on its poor shelf life, there is the need for awareness and training of communities on value addition including soaking, drying, boiling, salting and proper packaging.