Manang, May 5

The season for collecting the precious medicinal herb yarshagumba has begun in the Himalayan areas of Manang district.

Yarsagumba is a rare and unique herb that grows in the meadows above 3,500 metres in the Himalayan region.

Every year, during the months of May and June, thousands of villagers from remote areas risk their lives and head for high mountain areas to collect Yarsagumba.

The Himalayan herbal Viagra is mainly found at Namke, Kicho, Yak, Ghumre, Pisang, Naple and Fuku, among other Himalayan areas of Manang district.

Chief of Annapurna Conservation Area Management Committee, Manan, Babulal Tiruwa said the committee had issued permit for collection of the medicinal herb at Tachai and Bagarchhap from April 29.

According to Megha Bahadur Baraili, who received tender to collect yarsagumba, he had got tender worth Rs 3,620,000 to collect the herb in Namke area for this year.

Bairaili said local yarsa collectors have to pay Rs 4,500 while collectors from other districts have to pay Rs 10,000 for entry permit to collect the herb in the district. He also informed that around 450 collectors had obtained entry permit for collecting yarsagumba till date.

Meanwhile, yarsa collectors believe they could have a bumper collection this year because of heavy snowfall in the areas this year.

DSP Khadga Bahadur KC at Manang District Police Office said security has been beefed up in the Himalayan areas keeping the possibility of untoward incidents occurring during the yarsa collection season. DSP KC added that the police teams had been deployed to maintain peace.