Ukukhiqizwa kwamakhowe adliwako akhiqizelwa ukuthengiswa kukhule ngaphezulu kwamahlandla ayi-30 kusukela ngo-1978, nge-shiitake (Lentinus edodes) engaba yi-22% yamakhowe wephasi loke. Eminye imihlobo eqakathekileko yamakhowe ifakahlangana ama-oyster, i-button kunye ne-brown mushroom (Agaricus spp) enoki namanye amakhowe adliwako we-jelly fungi (Auricularia spp). Imihlobo emihlanu lena yamakhowe yenza i-85% yamakhowe alinywako ephasini.
Ngaphandle kokulima umetheriyali wokudla oqakathekileko onekghono lokufaka isandla ekwenzeni isiqiniseko sokobana ukudla akupheli, umkhiqizo wamakhowe ngenye yeendlela ezihle khulu zokusebenzisa imikhiqizo eyenziwe ngeminye imikhiqizo yezelimo efana nomanyoro weenkukhu kunye notjani bekoroyi.
Amakhowe amthombo wokudla okunepilo angasetjenziswa esikhundleni senyama begodu anenzuzo enengi kezepilo nekwenzeni iinhlahla zokulapha. Ngokungezelela, ngemva kokukhiqiza amakhowe, ivundela ebekutjalwe kiyo amakhowe ingasetjenzisa njengesivundisi sehlabathi ngonobangela wekghono layo lokungezelela i-organic matter content ehlabathini.
Khuyini Ikhowe?
Akusiso isilwane begodu akusisitjalo, amakhowe aphuma esitjhabeni sama-fungi. Amakhowe amzimba wenyama yama-fungi anesiqu, ikepisi kunye neenmbobo ezinzima eziphefumula ngazo kodwana angafakahlangana imihlobo ethileko enganasiqu. Amakhowe akhula ku-subtrate ayisebenzisa njengomthombo wokudla njengombana anganayo i-chlorophyll begodu akakghoni nokuzikhiqizela ukudla kwawo njengezinye iintjalo.
Woke amakhowe akhiqiza imbewu ekhamba nomoya, bese kuthi ikhowe elipheleleko liyakhula njengombana likhula ku-organic substrate. Emahlathini, i-substrate lena ingaba ligodo elibolileko, kodwana emaplasini lapho ekutjalwa khona amakhowe athengiswako, i-substrate lena yivundela.
Umkhiqizo Wamakhowe Ephasini
Inarha ye-China ngekhiqiza umkhiqizo omunengi khulu nedla khulu amakhowe angaba ngaphezulu kwe-5 miliyoni yamathani akhiqizwa qobe nyaka. I-Italy (761 000 amathani), i-USA (390 000 amathani), i-Netherlands (301 000 amathani) kunye ne-Poland ngezinye zeenarha ezikhiqiza amakhowe khulu.
I-Sewula Afrika ikhiqiza amathani angaba yi-21 000 qobe nyaka (2018) isiquntu sabakhiqizi bamakhowe ngebe-Gauteng, i-28% e-Western Cape, ne-17% KwaZulu-Natal. Amanye amakhowe we-Sewula Afrika athengiselwa iinarha zangaphandle, khulukhulu ezibomakhelwane ezifana ne-Namibia kunye ne-Mauritius.
Umlando Wokulinywa Kwamakhowe eSewula Afrika
Iplasi lokuthoma lamakhowe eSewula Afrika kwakungelaka dorhodere owayelapha amalwelwe wabantu bengubo u-Dr Charles Kark endaweni esele kuyisenthara ye-Sandton namhlanjesi. Kuhle hle, umlanjana odlula e-green park esentha ye-district yamarhwebo asesentha we-Johannesburg ebizwa nge-‘Silver Stream’ okuyigama leplasi lamakhowe kunye nefemi lapho egade kukhenwa khona ukudla ebezidume khulu ngeminyaka yabo 1950s kunye nabo 1960s. Muva lathengiselwa i-Tiger Brands bese yathengisela i-Tongaat Mushrooms egade ngaleso isikhathi ihlanganiswe ne-Denny Mushrooms.
I-South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (SAMFA) yasungulwa ngo-1984 begodu isebenzisa imali ekhutjhwa malunga wayo ukwenza irhubhululo nokumaketha.
Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana