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First Rains Awaken 'Samet Mushrooms,' Villagers Collect for Income Earning 200 Baht/Kg

First Rains Awaken 'Samet Mushrooms,' Villagers Collect for Income Earning 200 Baht/Kg

Khaosod•Society•1h ago

Reader Briefing

Seasonal 'Samet Mushrooms' bloom in Trang forests following the first rains, drawing hundreds of villagers to collect them for significant income.

  • •Hundreds of villagers from Trang and nearby provinces are gathering 'Samet Mushrooms' in forests after the first rains.
  • •The mushrooms, found under 'Samet Khao' trees, sell for 150-200 Baht per kilogram and are a vital source of income.
  • •This annual phenomenon occurs from late April to May, with the university encouraging villagers to collect and profit from the natural bounty.

Overview

  • •Between late April and May during the first rains each year, 'Samet Mushrooms' begin to grow under 'Samet Khao' trees.
  • •Hundreds of villagers from Trang and neighboring provinces, including Phatthalung, Satun, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, travel to collect 'Samet Mushrooms.'
  • •The mushrooms emerge after the hot season, signaling the start of the rainy season and an anticipated harvest opportunity for locals.
  • •'Samet Mushrooms' are sold at prices ranging from 150 to 200 Baht per kilogram, generating significant income for villagers.
  • •Villagers collect the mushrooms, which are described as having a white-purple hue and a firm texture, and cook them into various traditional dishes.
  • •Some villagers can collect between 2 to 10 kilograms of mushrooms per day, with some earning 500-1,000 Baht daily as a primary income source.
  • •The collection of 'Samet Mushrooms' provides supplementary income and helps reduce household expenses for many villagers.
  • •Administrators of Rajamangala University of Technology Trang permit villagers to collect the mushrooms, aiming to promote farmer income and support the local economy.

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Key Quotes

Local villager
"I boil them and sell them for 200 baht per kilogram, selling very well. I also send them to other provinces, but I don't remember how many kilograms I've sold."
ตนต้มขายได้กิโลละ 200 บาทขายดีมาก ส่งขายต่างจังหวัดด้วยแต่จำไม่ได้ว่าขายไปได้กี่กิโลแล้ว
Local villager
"The taste is bitter, sold for 150-200 baht per kilogram. Must boil and discard the water 2-3 times to get a non-bitter taste."
รสชาติขม ขายกิโลละ 150-200 บาท ต้องเอามาต้มแล้วเทน้ำทิ้งสัก 2-3 น้ำก็จะได้รสชาติที่ไม่ขม

Key Entities

Place

Samet Khao Tree(ต้นเสม็ดขาว)
The specific type of tree under which Samet Mushrooms are found to grow in the forests of Trang province.
Trang Province(จังหวัดตรัง)ℹ️
The province in Thailand where this annual phenomenon of Samet Mushroom collection is occurring and being reported.

Organization

Rajamangala University of Technology Trang Campus(มหาวิทยาลัยเทคโนโยลีราชมงคล วิทยาเขตตรัง)
The educational institution located in Sikao district, Trang province, whose grounds are utilized by villagers for collecting Samet Mushrooms.

Person

Mrs. Wilas Rongmuang(นางวิลาศ รองเมือง)
A 58-year-old villager from Moo 3, Mai Fud Subdistrict, Sikao District, Trang Province, who shared her experience collecting and selling Samet Mushrooms.