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Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Goa Biodiversity Board warns against unrestricted harvesting of wild mushrooms
PANAJI: The Goa State Biodiversity Board has issued an advisory warning against unrestricted harvesting of seasonal wild mushrooms saying that it was a major risk to the state's biodiversity and such action could invite legal action against the harvesters. Ten-Twelve mushroom buds weighing around 200 grams are sold at around ₹ 500. The Board urged traditional harvesters to 'leave behind at least fifty percent young stages on the termite mounds for conservation of their biodiversity' in order to ensure that the survival of vulnerable species are not threatened by overharvesting. 'The Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has ensured protection of natural species of wild mushrooms in wildlife sanctuaries but still people enter secretly in the forest and pluck mushrooms,' the advisory said cautioning that 'people ignorant of the different species of wild mushrooms need to be careful not to plunder rare smaller species found outside forest areas.' According to Pradip Sarmokadam, the member secretary of the Board, Goa is host to several species of Termitomyces, a genus of mushrooms that gets its name from the fact that they are frequently found growing on and around termite mounds, including possibly rare and threatened species, whose potential use in medicine and for the extraction of rare compounds is yet to be explored. 'Scientists are researching mushroom species for new drugs/ pharmaceuticals but, if wild species are destroyed in Goa then nothing will be left for scientific research,' Sarmokadam added. These include varieties known locally as khut or Khutyaliolami, Toshaliolami, Sonyaliolami and Chonchyaliolami or even smaller varieties like Shitololami. Ten-Twelve mushroom buds weighing around 200 grams are sold at around ₹500. The GSBB fears that 'rampant consumption and over exploitation' has spurred traditional pluckers to indulge in unethical practices, degrading sensitive wild habitat, thus causing erosion of biodiversity. According to a 2004 study, Goa has 28 species of Termitomyces mushrooms. However, experts believe that claims that the mushrooms are threatened are exaggerated. 'Mushrooms as a species grow out of the wood that the termites carry back to their nest. It is a symbiotic relationship between the termites and the mushroom with the mushrooms helping break down the lignin in the wood,' said horticulturist Miguel Braganza. 'Harvesting mushrooms has little to no effect on the spread of the mushroom as the main fungi organism lives below the surface. The real threat to the mushrooms is the use of fungicides and other chemicals, which the GSBB is silent about, and it is instead targeting the harvester, who often hails from poor communities,' he added. 'There is no threat to the species from harvesting, instead entire hills are being lost to mining and real estate, which the government is doing very little about,' Braganza said. Studies have recorded that all Termitomyces species are edible and have unique food value attributed to their texture, flavour, nutrient content, and beneficial mediational properties. The genus has been recognized for its ethno-medicinal importance in various indigenous communities throughout Asia and Africa. Recent studies on Termitomyces have indicated that their bioactive compounds have the potential to fight against certain human diseases such as cancer, hyperlipidaemia, gastroduodenal diseases, and Alzheimer's. Furthermore, they possess various beneficial antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Moreover, different enzymes produced from Termitomyces have the potential to be used in a range of industrial applications.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Biodiversity board warns against exploitation of wild mushrooms
Panaji: As the sale of wild mushrooms has begun in Goa with the arrival of the monsoon, the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) has warned against the overexploitation of these edible mushrooms, known locally as 'roen olmi'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The GSBB has appealed to Goans not to encourage the sale and consumption of these wild mushrooms and has said that locals should instead patronise the 'much cheaper and nutritious button and oyster mushrooms' available in local markets. The roen olmi is considered a delicacy locally. However, the GSBB began initiating awareness on the conservation of roen olmi from 2018, noting that the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides protection to natural species of wild mushrooms in wildlife sanctuaries. Yet, these mushrooms are seen being plucked secretly by entering forests for sale and consumption. 'For thousands of years, forest dwellers conserved wild mushroom species. But in recent times, people started exploiting mushrooms, posing a threat to nature,' the GSBB has said. 'The unethical approach of pluckers is degrading sensitive wild habitats, thus causing erosion of biodiversity. Scientists are researching mushroom species for new drugs/pharmaceuticals, but if wild species are destroyed in Goa, then nothing will be left for scientific research. ' The GSBB has also appealed to those involved in plucking and in the roadside sale of roen olmi to leave behind at least 50% of the young stages on the termite mounds for the conservation of their biodiversity. It also asked owners of private forests to care for and conserve the roen olmi species. 'People must completely avoid plucking and bringing very small mushrooms for sale. Nobody should plunder rare smaller species found outside forest areas,' GSBB said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It has added, 'These include varieties known as khut or khutyaliolami, toshaliolami, sonyaliolami, and chonchyaliolami. People must not overexploit non-marketed smaller species of termitomyces, locally known as shiti, shitololami, found at the end of the monsoon.'
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Centre joins German govt to study, curb KFD in Goa
Panaji: Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey disease, emerged in Goa in March 2015. The state reported one death in 2015 and three deaths in 2016. The health department controlled the disease after over 460 cases through various measures. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Currently, regions in Goa, along with Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, are included in the central govt's pilot project on KFD. The pilot project aims to create awareness in villages located in the foothills of the Western Ghats, particularly in parts of Sattari, Goa. Additionally, the project will examine the relationship between altered biodiversity and KFD for the first time. The six-month study's findings will assist the Centre in preventing similar disease outbreaks nationwide. Pradip Sarmokadam, member secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board, said the increase in KFD cases in Goa occurred during the cashew plucking season. He noted that ticks on certain plants contribute to the disease's spread. 'It will be seen under the project if some of these plants that are made home by the ticks can be eliminated or reduced from the environment in the villagers of Sattari at the foothills of the Western Ghats, where there is history of KFD,' Sarmokadam said. The state established a committee on zoonosis for the first time. Sarmokadam added, 'The project is being taken up under govt of India's One Health Mission and GIZ of the German govt. It will aim to eliminate the roots of such diseases, ensure better preparedness to tackle them, and mobilise local people and biodiversity management committees to bring in behavioural changes in the locals through awareness etc to prevent KFD.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'I studied the land': Goa man Balakrishna Aiya dug through rock to bring water to his village
Everyone said digging a well here was impossible,' says 76-year-old Balakrishna Aiya. The topic of the conversation is Maddi-Tolop and the resident of Loliem in Goa's Canacona is talking about how he worked through rock to bring water to the tiny community. It is a story as much of determination as ingenuity. Maddi-Tolop means 'rocky area' in Konkani. Water represented a constant anxiety for its residents, but experts had long written off the area due to its treacherous terrain: a rocky upper crust, followed by clay, and then solid black stone beneath. The geological challenges were formidable, but Aiya saw possibility where others saw only stone. 'I studied the land,' he recalls. 'Then I had an idea nobody had tried before.' His innovation was practical yet revolutionary. The trick, he figured, lay in being able to dig deep for water. But that was an enterprise that involved the considerable risk of getting trapped beneath boulders if the shaft caved in. So, Aiya designed an unprecedented safety feature: a stairway from the ground level down to the clay level, creating an escape route for workers who could then dig deeper, secure in the knowledge that they had a way out if the earth became unstable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo But he wasn't just content with solving his own water issues. He laid pipelines to connect his water source to 25 other households in Maddi-Tolop . Those who know Aiya say that's typical of the man who is an inno- vator, artist and an unlikely hero in equal parts. If locals are effusive in their praise, Aiya has also been recognised for his work with awards from the Goa State Biodiversity Board. He's also a recipient of the Kala Gaurav Puraskar. A restless creator, he crafts everything from Ganesh idols to brooms. In fact, adapting to the situation is Aiya's forte. In his younger years, when he discovered schools were hiring art teachers, he pursued an elementary drawing teachers' course and went on to teach at a local school for 17 years. That's how idol-making happened — as a means of supplementing his income after he'd taken voluntary retirement from school. He also doubles as a pandit to find additional ways to support his family. As for brooms, he actually devised a tool for making the latter. Catch him at work making brooms and you will notice a peculiarly shaped knife. 'This is my own design. It trims the ribs at exactly the right angle.' Using the instrument, within minutes he transforms what looks like an ordinary bundle of dried palm fronds into what locals insist is the finest broom in Canacona. The secret lies in a special binding technique and custom grip that Aiya perfected after years of experimentation. His brooms sell for Rs 250-300 each. Producing between two and six brooms daily, Aiya has turned a common tool into an art form. Now, he is keen to pass on his craftsmanship to the younger generation. 'What good is knowledge if it dies with you?' he says to articulate his philosophy. 'What good is innovation if it doesn't help your neighbour?'
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
State to expand its forest produce processing centres, engage private players
Panaji: State govt has decided to involve private players to operate GoVan multi-product processing centres (MPCs) as it is planning to start 11 new MPCs in the state, including one at Agnel Ashram, Verna. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Currently, MPCs operate at Pale and Bicholim in North Goa, and Pontemol and Curchorem in South Goa. GoVan is a flagship initiative of Goa State Biodiversity Board, launched in 2021 under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002. It combines 'Goa' and 'Van' (forest) to reflect its dual commitment to preserving Goa's biodiversity and encouraging sustainable, non-destructive harvesting of minor forest produce. Through GoVan, govt promotes the sustainable use of Goa's biodiversity resources and links them to the livelihoods of the rural population, with a focus on empowering women. The selected private player must develop a plan to make the MPCs cost-effective and profitable over time. They need to provide a comprehensive strategy for ensuring the functioning and sustainability of existing and future MPCs, including necessary machinery and infrastructure upgrades. 'The private players will have to propose and implement marketing and working models (financial and revenue-sharing models) to ensure the long-term viability of the centres, with strategies for profitability and self-sustainability,' a senior officer said. GoVan centres process non-timber forest products (NTFP) such as cashew, jackfruit, bimbla, mango, kokum, and coconut into value-added goods like pickles, dried fruits, and local delicacies. GoVan employs a systematic and sustainable approach throughout its operations, starting with non-destructive harvesting techniques that preserve crop health and ecosystem balance. After harvesting, the produce is carefully collected and transported to ensure minimal damage. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It is then sorted and graded based on size, quality, and ripeness, followed by washing to eliminate contaminants and ensure food safety. The produce is stored under optimal conditions to maintain freshness. For packaging and labelling, GoVan uses eco-friendly materials and provides detailed product information, highlighting the sustainability of its practices. GoVan processes some products into value-added items, such as pickles, dried fruits, candied fruits, or local specialities like Fenori, a Goan sweet snack, that increases the market value and provides additional income opportunities for SHG women. 'This comprehensive value chain approach, from sustainable harvesting to value-added product development, not only ensures high-quality outputs but also supports GoVan's mission of promoting environmental conservation and empowering local communities,' a senior officer said.
