Shajkun, a seasonal mushroom found in the coniferous forests of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora in March and April months, is selling like hot cakes in north Kashmir.
As the weather has improved here, the women folk venture out in the nearby thick forests of Deodar in Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Kralpora and Kandi to collect the rare mushroom locally known as Shajkun.
According to the locals this mushroom generally grows in the shape of an ear and is rich in protein, iron and calcium. The locals believe this golden colour mushroom sprouts after lightning strikes the ground.
The demand for this short lived mushroom is high and it sells like hot cakes in different markets of North Kashmir, the locals said.
Since the high demand, each kg of Shajkun mushroom fetches Rs 200 to 300 in Kupwara, Handwara and Baramulla markets.
“Everyone in my family loves it. I always make sure to buy the fresh one,” Gulam Muhammad, a business man in Kupwara said.
“There is a lot of demand for this short seasonal mushroom which is very famous. People prefer to eat it in this season, because it has great nutritional value,” Bilal Ahmad, a local vegetable vendor of Kupwara said.
“We are happy with the sales of this mushroom. One kilogram of it sells at a price of Rs 200 to 300 per Kg,” a vendor said.
Muhammad Tahir, who loves Shajkun mushroom said, “I have a friend in Mumbai, who loves to come this season just to have Shajkun curry, here.”
Dr Shabir Ahmad, Nodal officer Ayush Hospital Kupwara said that Shajkun belongs to Morels (Guchi) family of mushrooms which grows only in wild areas covered with coniferous forests and is the most valued wild mushroom which has the highest nutritional values.
“There is abundant quantity of iron, calcium and proteins in this mushroom which makes it a royal mushroom,” he said.
Despite the popularity of mushrooms in Kashmir valley as well as outside, there is no organized farming or processing of these mushrooms, the locals said.
