The dangerous hunt for yarsagumba is no longer paying off for Karnali’s collectors
Summary
Karnali’s yarsagumba collectors are earning far less as prices fall, Chinese buyers stay away and the costs and risks of reaching high-altitude pastures remain high. Many households have seen incomes shrink sharply, pushing some family members to seek work in India or elsewhere.
Key Points
- Yarsagumba prices have dropped sharply in Karnali, while local traders say Chinese buyers are no longer coming to border markets or Nepal.
- Collectors in Dolpa and Mugu spend large sums and face life-threatening risks, but many now earn far less than in previous years.
- The decline is linked to lower quality, reduced production, climate impacts and the suspension of collection during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Government data show production in Karnali has fallen steadily in recent years, with only a few hundred kilograms collected this year so far.
