Mugu. The villages and settlements in the high mountainous areas of the western north of the country now seem empty. The village has become empty after everyone in the village went to collect yarsa monastery in nagi patans, which have been empty due to melting snow. Only disabled, lactating mothers, children and the elderly are found in the village. Yarsagumba is an important aspect of the family economy cycle. A similar scene was witnessed when we reached Mugum Karmarong village in Mugu.
The locals of the mountainous and high hilly districts of the western north go to the high mountainous areas for a month from the second week of May.
Picking yarsagumba, which is found in the patans of the high mountainous region, is called insect carving in the local language. Even small children understand it in the same way. Schools have been closed and villages have become empty due to all the insects.
The main source of income in the area is the sale of Yarsagumba. In the season, everyone goes to yarsa. For about a month, the village is deserted.
Thille Lama, a permanent resident of Mugu Karmarong Rural Municipality-7 and working as a social operator in Mangri, said that only women, children and elderly people with small children are in the village.
He says, “The main income here is Yarsagumba. From 10-12 to 50-60 years old, people have walked to pick yarsa. The village is deserted for exactly a month. They return to their villages after June 15. You can’t pick up after a month. Schools are now closed. No one seems to be interested in school education yet. Students are less enrolled. Even if you are admitted, you will be removed later. There is also a problem of drinking water in the village. ‘
Health worker Nurbu Tsering Lama, who had a small child, was found in the village. He says, “The men are all gone. Now there are mothers of small children in the village. There may be employees. Half of the houses in the village are locked. The family has gone to pick yarsagumba. Yarsagumba and wage labour are the sources of income. ’
Yarsagumba is a species of fungus found in the mountainous region of Nepal. Yarsagumba, which is used as a valuable herb, generates a huge income from export. During the season, people above the age of 9 and up to the age of 60 go to pick yarsa.
Since Yarsa is the main source of income, most of mugu’s villages are now deserted. Mangri is also deserted. Half of the houses in the village have been locked. Only young children and the elderly are found. Locals of Mangri’s neighbouring village Chhayala have also gone to pick yarsa.
There are only women and small children in the village. Some schools are in operation but there are no students. Only children below the age of 9 years are found in the schools in operation.
Yarsagumba was opened for harvesting from May 15 this year. Most of the schools including Mugu, Humla, Jumla and Dolpa have been closed since March 15. Only primary level students come to the schools that have come into operation.
Nepal is the second country after China to supply Yarsagumba with medicinal properties. Its main market is China. Although there is no exact data, yarsagumba is exported from the mountainous region of western Nepal, just like cardamom in eastern Nepal.
A study conducted by Nepal Rastra Bank in 2072 also stated that Yarsagumba has helped the national economy to move along with increasing socio-economic activities of the people living in mountainous and high hilly districts.
The study estimated that yarsagumba worth Rs 4.92 billion was collected in 11 districts of Nepal in the fiscal year 2070/71 BS. The study was focused on Darchula, Dolpa, Jumla, Bajhang and Manang, which are the main centers for yarsagumba collection.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्