KATHMANDU: The Yarsa collection season in Manang's Namkekharka began on April 22, with Fu village starting its collection on May 27. Konjo Tenzing Lama, Chairperson of Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality, stated that only permit holders are allowed to collect Yarsa (Chinese caterpillar fungus) starting Monday. Permits cost Rs. 35,000, and permit holders can collect Yarsa for a month in Fuka Lake. To avoid security issues, only locals of Manang are permitted to collect Yarsa in the protected and restricted areas of Nar and Fu.

The revenue from Yarsa collection will be divided, with 60 percent going to the conservation area management committee and 40 percent to the rural municipality. An additional 10 percent export tax per kilogram of Yarsa will be applied. To ensure security during the collection period, a team of five police officers from the Khyakhu Police Post has been deployed to Fu village. This measure aims to prevent conflicts similar to the 2009 incident where seven people from Gorkha were killed while collecting Yarsa in Namkekharka.

Chief District Officer Subash Kumar Lamichhane confirmed that security arrangements have been tightened. Only locals of Manang are allowed to collect Yarsa in Fu this year to prevent any unpleasant incidents. If issues arise, the conservation area management will be held accountable. A coordination agreement has been signed between security personnel and the management committee to ensure timely communication and support.

Permission for Yarsa collection is only granted by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office. Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of ACAP Manang, stated that collectors from outside districts are not permitted in Narpa Bhumi’s pasturelands. This year, the yield in Namkekharka is lower due to a lack of snow and rain, which are essential for Yarsa growth. Only small quantities have been collected, as reported by Yad Ghale, Ward Chairman of Nasho-8.

A team of 200 people obtained permission to collect Yarsa from Namkekharka this year. Despite beginning their collection on May 10, the team returned to the village on May 18 to perform death rituals before resuming their collection efforts. Ghale noted the importance of timely snowfall for a good Yarsa yield, which has been lacking this year, resulting in smaller and fewer Yarsa.