Thousands of people flock to Saipal peak on a Yarshagumba trail

Over forty thousand people have reached Saipal peak in Bajhang district to collect Yarshagumba, a lucrative herb used in traditional medicines, and the number is increasing each day.

The pickers from Surya, Dahabagar and Kanda VDCs of the district have been provided with identity cards by Bajhang Herbs Concern Association so that they could collect the lucrative herb which has high demand at home and abroad, National News Agency reported.

According the Association chairman Dharma Jung Bahadur Singh, the number of pickers was just eighteen thousand last year.

People aged between 15 to 20 years and especially belonging to Bhote and Lama community from Bajhang, Doti, Baitadi and Darchula districts have gone for collection without caring a 5-day long arduous journey on foot, it is reported.

They are said to be staying under tents and living on different dry food items such as noodles, beaten rice and biscuits due to the lack of fire wood there.

Last year, price of the herb was Rs. 600,000 per kg and this year it is expected to go up to Rs. 700,000 per kg. Accordingly, a piece of Yarshagumba which used to cost Rs. 125 last year is expected to fetch Rs 200 this year.

Come May, people of these impoverished far western hilly districts brace up for an annual hunt for Yarshagumba. Each pickers at least manages to collect over Rs 1 lakh worth of Yarshagumba over the month long hunting period and if lucky more than that. Given that people here have few options when it comes to earning, sometimes the whole village including school teachers and students pack up their wares and go to the peaks to collect the lucrative herb. nepalnews.com ag May 21 08