RUKUM, May 7: With the objective of protecting Yarsa, a valuable herb with aphrodisiac function, from extinction, the Yarsa Management Committee (YMC) in the district has banned picking Yarsa in Syalkhadi of Athbiskot Municipality-2 for the next three years.
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Last year, villagers were allowed to pick Yarsa in this place. "Yarsa has already become rare here," said Karna Bahadur Airi, a local, adding, "If we allow picking Yarsa regularly, we will push this rare herb towards extinction." According to him, if people are prohibited from collecting Yarsa for the next three years, it will help the conservation of this herb.
Yarsa is commonly found in Sanakhara, Thulakhara and Bhittekhola of Syalkhadi. People from not only Rukum but also neighboring district Jajarkot come here for picking Yarsa during the season. Another local Ajay Thapa said the YMC will open picking Yarsa only after two years. This has compelled the villagers here to go to eastern Rukum and Dolpa for collecting Yarsa.
This place was opened for Yarsa collection years ago. Thapa further said that Yarsa worth Rs 6 million has been collected from Syalkhadi in all these years. Locals too are hopeful that the ban will help to increase Yarsa in this place. Syalkhadi is the only place in the district where Yarsa is found. According to locals, they make around Rs 300,000 during the season by collecting this herb. They meet their yearly expenses with this money.
