The much sought after and delectable seasonal mushrooms locally known as “Olmi” has arrived in the market. However the price of the delicacy is unaffordable for the common man. It is learnt that at the Ponda market a bundle of 30 to 40 mushrooms is priced at Rs 900 and above. It is pertinent to note that there is a ban on collecting 'Roen Olmi' from the forests since they play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance. The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) had in the past reportedly warned of potential ill-effects if Olmi collection is over exploited. These mushrooms have no independent existence. They grow only in association with termites. It plays a very important role as a powerful biodegrading fungus in forest and grassland ecosystems converting 50% dead plant material on the ground into rich soil. Alla Termitomyces species have a unique food value attributed to their nutrient content, and beneficial medicinal properties. mushroom poisoning is the result of ingestion of wild mushrooms after misidentification of a toxic mushroom as an edible species. To prevent mushroom poisoning, locals who collect them need to familiarize themselves with edible mushrooms and any similar looking toxic species.
