Economic Potential and Value Chain of Wild Edible Mushrooms and Cultivated Mushrooms from the Virunga National Park and Surrounding Area in the Democratic Republic of Congo  

作　　者：Jean Pierre Habineza Mpunga Edson Niyonsaba Sebigunda Chantal Shalukoma Philippe Lebailly Fabio Berti Constantin Dushimimana François Muhashy Habiyaremye Philippe Burny Baudouin Michel Jean Pierre Habineza Mpunga;Edson Niyonsaba Sebigunda;Chantal Shalukoma;Philippe Lebailly;Fabio Berti;Constantin Dushimimana;François Muhashy Habiyaremye;Philippe Burny;Baudouin Michel(Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Goma (UNIGOM), Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Economics and Rural Development Laboratory, University of Lige (ULIEGE), Lige, Belgium;Regional Post-Graduate School for Integrated Forest and Land Planning and Management Tropical (ERAIFT), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo;Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS-CEBioS), Brussels, Belgium)

机构地区：[1]Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Goma (UNIGOM), Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo [2]Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Economics and Rural Development Laboratory, University of Lige (ULIEGE), Lige, Belgium [3]Regional Post-Graduate School for Integrated Forest and Land Planning and Management Tropical (ERAIFT), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [4]Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya [5]Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS-CEBioS), Brussels, Belgium

出　　处：《Agricultural Sciences》2025年第1期48-67,共20页农业科学(英文)

摘　　要：A substantial body of research has been conducted with the objective of enhancing the understanding of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) in Central Africa. A significant proportion of the studies focus on medicinal plants, in contrast to those that examine food products. Nevertheless, studies on edible wild mushrooms as NTFPs and cultivated mushrooms, on their economic potential and value chains in the Great Lakes Region, remain scarce and largely absent for some NTFPs. In light of the aforementioned considerations, the present study aims to examine the economic potential and value chain of the production sector of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) and cultivated mushrooms (CM) within the Virunga National Park (PNVi) and its surrounding areas in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To this end, a sample of 432 respondents was selected, distributed equitably among the actors of the Goma-Kitshanga-Mweso value chain, the Goma-Rutshuru chain, the Beni-Mutwanga chain, and the Beni-Mangina chain. A digital questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions was administered, and observations were carried out concurrently. The quantities of mushrooms sold were weighed and photographed. The results demonstrated that, when the eight-month fruiting period of wild and cultivated mushrooms was considered as a single year for all actors within the value chain, a picker could sell 6.1 kg at $2 and earn $12. A seller could sell 16 kg at $4 and earn $64, while a grower could sell 502 kg at $3 and earn $1506. Consequently, the CM grower generates a significantly higher profit than other participants in the value chain, despite the expenses he incurs. Ultimately, the domestication of WEM, highly prized by the local population of the Virunga National Park, has the potential to enhance their household incomes, as evidenced by the findings of this study.A substantial body of research has been conducted with the objective of enhancing the understanding of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) in Central Africa. A significant proportion of the studies focus on medicinal plants, in contrast to those that examine food products. Nevertheless, studies on edible wild mushrooms as NTFPs and cultivated mushrooms, on their economic potential and value chains in the Great Lakes Region, remain scarce and largely absent for some NTFPs. In light of the aforementioned considerations, the present study aims to examine the economic potential and value chain of the production sector of wild edible mushrooms (WEM) and cultivated mushrooms (CM) within the Virunga National Park (PNVi) and its surrounding areas in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To this end, a sample of 432 respondents was selected, distributed equitably among the actors of the Goma-Kitshanga-Mweso value chain, the Goma-Rutshuru chain, the Beni-Mutwanga chain, and the Beni-Mangina chain. A digital questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions was administered, and observations were carried out concurrently. The quantities of mushrooms sold were weighed and photographed. The results demonstrated that, when the eight-month fruiting period of wild and cultivated mushrooms was considered as a single year for all actors within the value chain, a picker could sell 6.1 kg at $2 and earn $12. A seller could sell 16 kg at $4 and earn $64, while a grower could sell 502 kg at $3 and earn $1506. Consequently, the CM grower generates a significantly higher profit than other participants in the value chain, despite the expenses he incurs. Ultimately, the domestication of WEM, highly prized by the local population of the Virunga National Park, has the potential to enhance their household incomes, as evidenced by the findings of this study.

关 键 词：Economic Potential Cultivated Mushrooms Value Chain Wild Edible Mushrooms Virunga National Park North Kivu 

分 类 号：F42[经济管理—产业经济]