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.