Yarsagumba Collection Begins in Manang’s High-Altitude Pastures
Photo: Royal Mountain Travel
Manang, April 30: The collection of Yarsagumba, a medicinal herb and a major source of livelihood for locals, has begun in the high-altitude pastures of Manang district from Wednesday.
The harvesting season started in the herb-rich lakes and pasture areas of Manang, according to Yad Ghale, Chairperson of the Conservation Area Management Committee and ward chair of Nasong Rural Municipality-8.
Yarsagumba, a rare and valuable medicinal herb found above 3,500 metres in the Himalayan region, attracts thousands of people to remote mountain areas every year during May and June. Collectors often risk their lives to harvest the herb from difficult terrains.
Although Yarsagumba is found in several pastures across the district, collection activities have first begun at Namgya Lake in Tachi of Nasong Rural Municipality-8.
“Collection has started in nearby pastures where Yarsagumba is found. Collectors have reported that production has been declining compared to previous years,” Ghale said, adding that the issue is becoming increasingly concerning.
According to the Conservation Area Management Regulations 2053 and the Conservation Management Directive 2056, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) area conservation office issues permits for the collection of Yarsagumba and other medicinal herbs.
The ACAP office grants permission for Yarsagumba collection within national parks, reserves and conservation areas in the mountainous regions. Only after obtaining official approval can the Conservation Management Committee issue collection licences to harvesters within its jurisdiction.
Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office in Manang, said permission will be granted for Yarsagumba collection in forest areas within conservation zones across all local levels of the district.
Nepali citizens from outside the district must coordinate with the concerned conservation management committee to obtain collection permits.
Yarsagumba collection is allowed only after official approval is granted by the office. Along with residents of Manang, people from Lamjung, Gorkha and Dhading districts have also begun arriving in the high-altitude lakes and pastures of Manang to collect the herb, often referred to as “Himalayan Viagra.”
(RSS)
Photo: Royal Mountain Travel
