MANANG:- The picking of Yarsagumba, the herb with medicinal value and a prime source of livelihood here, has begun in the high-altitude pastures of Manang district from today.
The collection of Yarsagumba in the lakes of Manang, rich in medicinal herbs, has begun, informed Yad Ghale, Chairperson of the Conservation Area Management Committee and Nasong-8 ward chair. Yarsagumba is a rare and unique herb that grows in the meadows above 3,500 metres in the Himalayan region.
Thousands of villagers from remote areas risk their lives and head for high mountain areas to collect Yarsagumba every year, during the months between May and June. Although Yarsagumba can be found in many pastures here, collection has started from Namgya Lake located in Tachi of Nasong Rural Municipality-8, he said.
“Collection has started from the nearby pasture where Yarsa is found. Collectors have reported that production has been decreasing compared to before,” he said, adding that, “This is increasingly seen as a problem.”
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 permits Yarsa collection in the National Parks, Reserves and Conservation Areas in the mountainous regions.
Only after obtaining a permit does the Conservation Management Committee issue collection licenses to collectors within its working area. Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office, Manang, informed that permission will be granted to collect Yarsagumba in forest areas within conservation areas in all local level units of the district.
Nepalese citizens from outside the district will depend on the conservation management committee concerned for the Yarsagumba collection.
Collection can only take place after the office grants approval for the Yarsagumba collection. Along with Manang, locals from Lamjung, Gorkha and Dhading throng the Manang lakes to collect the Himalayan Viagra.