Yarsa revenue collection up by 26 per cent

Jajarkot–The Shey Phokshundo National Park, Dolpa, has collected more than Rs 10.91 million in revenue from the yarshagumba pickers this fiscal year.

The revenue collection was increased by 26 per cent in current fiscal year as compared to previous fiscal year. According to the National Park’s Information Officer Chhatra Khadka, more than 8,000 yarsha pickers from Jajarkot, Rukum and Jumla among other districts had thronged various 70 highland meadows to collect the medicinal fungus.

The local concerned authority recently opened the meadows that lie in the National Park area and other places where the yarsha pickers would pick the herb at commercial level and sell for yarsha is used to cure anemia, chest and lung infections, kidney ailments and liver disease among others.

Bhagawati Shahi of Aathbiskot municipality from Rukum district said that the yarsha pickers were jostling to collect the Himalayan fungus that fetches them a handsome price when sold.

The local authority has charged Rs 500 from the local pickers from the buffer zones while the yarsha pickers from the Dolpa district were charged Rs 2,000. Similarly, the local authority has charged Rs 3,000 from the yarsha pickers outside the Dolpa district.

Yarsha could be picked from May 24 up to a month.