| Cordyceps sinensis or Yarcha Gumba |
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Nepal Nature |
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| Use of Yarchagumba limited |
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March
2008
In
Nepal the use of Yarchagumba is merely limited to its collection and export
to foreign countries. Until 2001, its collection was illegal but the government,
in response to its popularity and pressure from various organisations,
attempted to regulate the trade by lifting the ban and imposing a substantial
tax or royalty of Rs 20,000 on every kg of Yarshagumba collected. Best
quality Yarshagumba fetches up to $15,000 per kg.
Baglung
- Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve: Maoists allow locals to collect Yarchagumba |
February
2006
The
Maoists taking care of the reserve management have opened up collection
of rare herb 'Yarchagumba' . The opening has attracted crowds of illegal
collectors of Yarchagumba. Maoist workers have entered the area to take
the royalty from the collectors.
According
to the Reserve officials, it is illegal to collect the rare herb within
the Reserve although it is permissible by paying royalty outside the Reserve.
The
reserve is about 100 km west of Baglung at an altitude of 16, 000 feet
(about 4,900 m) from the sea level. People come to the area in the pretext
of business and get one piece of herb in exchange for a packet of noodles,
locals say. They collect by paying to the Maoists, and export it to Tibet
of China and India through contractors. The collectors pay NRs. 10 per
piece of herb to the Maoists. The businessmen buy it at NRs. 40-50 from
the farmers and sell it to Tibetan and Indian contractors.
Potent
insurgency |
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June
2005
Maoists
are financing their revolution with Himalayan viagra
The
villages in this arid and remote district are all empty. No, it's not because
of the Maoists. Every able-bodied person is up on the mountains collecting Yarchagumba
(Yarshagumba).
This
unique Himalayan fungus that grows like a worm out of the soil after the
snow melts is in high demand internationally. Called 'Himalayan viagra'
for its alleged potency, prices have shot up as China becomes more affluent.
Cordyceps
sinensis |
Dolpo
goes for Yarchagumba |
Thousands
of people are making a beeline in Dolpo to collect Yarchagumba and most
of them illegally. Thousands of Dolpo-dwellers, from other districts and
even from Tibet have gathered in Dolpo, and this mad rush for the herb
has led to the illegal collection, transportation and selling of Yarchagumba.
People of all ages from school children to youths to old ones are involved
in the collection. |
The
rush has increased after the government lifted the ban and on the collection
of Yarchagumba in January 2001 hoping to collect millions in revenue. The
government fixed a royalty of NRs. 20,000 per kilo. In Patans each piece
of Yarchagumba are being sold at NRs. 20 - 23. Last year a piece of herb
was sold at NRs. 30. The price for the rare herb within Nepal is NRs. 100,
000 to NRs. 140, 000 per kg.
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Nepal: Collecting Yarchagumba is restricted |
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According
to regulation, only licensed collctors are allowed to collect Yarchagumba.
The processed Yarchagumba are allowed to be exported from the country.
But there is no processing centre in the country.
The
government which gave permission two years ago with NRs. 500 as royalty
for one piece, plans to give permission for Rs. 20,000 of royalty per kg
this year.
Traders
say when they are not allowed to export unprocessed Yarchagumba what is
the use of going through the legal process of obtaining license for collecting
them. Majority of the Yarchagumba are taken to the Tibet Autonomous Region
of China and to other countries through India.
As
the herb collection is seasonal, it does not affect the environment, and
the herb gives sexual vigour.
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