Environment & Ecology2022
With reference to “Gucchi” sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:
- It is a fungus.
- It grows in some Himalayan Forest areas.
- It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills
of north-eastern India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The correct option is 1 and 2. Gucchi, also known as morel mushroom, is indeed a fungus that grows wild in the alpine meadows and certain forested areas of the Himalayan region, particularly in states like Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Although it is highly prized for its culinary use and nutritional value, Gucchi is not commercially cultivated on a large scale in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India; it is primarily gathered through foraging, making it a wild produce rather than an agricultural crop. This highlights the sustainable harvesting practices in high-altitude ecosystems, relevant to discussions on biodiversity and sustainable agriculture in UPSC syllabus contexts.
