Highly-prized medicinal fungus Yarsagumba, popularly called ‘Himalayan Viagra’, is declining from its habitat, a new study has found.
A new study carried out in Dolpa revealed that the average per capita harvest of the Yarsagumba has been declined considerably. The number was 267 pieces per person in 2006 and now it dropped to 125 pieces in 2010.
"The harvesting trends of Yarsagumba in last five years showed that it has been significantly decreasing by 32 piece per person per year since 2006; as the result cash income of the poor harvesters is declining by six to nine thousands every year,” researcher Uttam Babu Shrestha, a PhD scholar at University of Massachusetts, Boston and a research associate at Harvard University.
The poor harvesters of Dolpa heavily depend on Yarsagumba harvesting and share of their income by it is up to 70 per cent. “For many households this is the only source of cash income,” Shrestha added.
The decline in abundance is prompting harvesters to spend more days in the alpine pastures risking over-exploitation of a pristine landscape and more ecosystem degradation, the study concluded.
According to the report, Yarsagumba largely traded as a tonic and aphrodisiac, is endemic species of the Himalayas and Tibet, and is regarded as the world’s most expensive natural medicine.
The cost of a kilogram of Yarsagumba in international market is about USD 60,000 (NRs. 4.8m).
Shrestha said that there are several reasons behind the decline of caterpillar fungus.
"Overharvesting, pre-mature harvesting, over grazing, unavailability of the host larvae or climate change are in my checklist," he said.
A new study carried out in Dolpa revealed that the average per capita harvest of the Yarsagumba has been declined considerably. The number was 267 pieces per person in 2006 and now it dropped to 125 pieces in 2010.
"The harvesting trends of Yarsagumba in last five years showed that it has been significantly decreasing by 32 piece per person per year since 2006; as the result cash income of the poor harvesters is declining by six to nine thousands every year,” researcher Uttam Babu Shrestha, a PhD scholar at University of Massachusetts, Boston and a research associate at Harvard University.
The poor harvesters of Dolpa heavily depend on Yarsagumba harvesting and share of their income by it is up to 70 per cent. “For many households this is the only source of cash income,” Shrestha added.
The decline in abundance is prompting harvesters to spend more days in the alpine pastures risking over-exploitation of a pristine landscape and more ecosystem degradation, the study concluded.
According to the report, Yarsagumba largely traded as a tonic and aphrodisiac, is endemic species of the Himalayas and Tibet, and is regarded as the world’s most expensive natural medicine.
The cost of a kilogram of Yarsagumba in international market is about USD 60,000 (NRs. 4.8m).
Shrestha said that there are several reasons behind the decline of caterpillar fungus.
"Overharvesting, pre-mature harvesting, over grazing, unavailability of the host larvae or climate change are in my checklist," he said.
As Published on myrepublica
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