Economic dependence of mountain communities on Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba): a case from western Nepal (original) (raw)
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Oryx
Products obtained from forests or other natural environments play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries through income generation and the creation of employment opportunities. Although studies have been carried out to evaluate the dependence of local livelihoods on environmental products, quantify the linkage between poverty and biodiversity, and assess the impacts of resource depletion on household economics, most have been focused geographically on the tropics. Our study was conducted in the mountain village of Jumla, Nepal, to quantify the economic contribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba) to local households. Income from yarsagumba accounted for up to 65% of the total household cash income, on average, and its contribution was highest in the poorest households. It contributed to reducing income inequality by 38%, and the income was utilized to purchase food and clothes, celebrate festivals, pay f...
Mountain Research and Development, 2018
The trade of Himalayan caterpillar fungus, or Ophiocordyceps sinensis, is believed to have transformed the rural economy of certain Himalayan villages. Most scholarly work on the caterpillar fungus focuses on its ecology, physiology, and pharmacological attributes, followed by conservation and sustainability issues. Few studies have tried to understand it from a socioeconomic and political perspective. Of the few studies examining its economic contribution to households, most are concentrated in Nepal and Tibet, and a handful focus on India. In the present study, we estimated the mean annual cash income per household in Gori valley, Kumaon Himalaya, and the relative economic contribution of caterpillar fungus. We compared the incomes of caterpillar fungus collectors with those of noncollectors, identified harvest trends from 2009 to 2017, and took stock of people's perceptions regarding this short seasonal occupation. Results show that earnings from caterpillar fungus contribute 60–78% to the annual household income of collectors, with noncollectors earning 15–55% less than collectors. The study suggests that an increase in the number of harvesters may explain an observed decline in individual harvests. Though caterpillar fungus provides opportunities for economic emancipation to half the valley's population, inconsistent harvest, unreliable prices, and illegality of the trade are decreasing its viability for many. Furthermore, discordant and complex governance meted out through various state directives is increasingly jeopardizing this local natural resource-based livelihood enhancement strategy—a strategy that has incidentally outperformed concerted state efforts for poverty alleviation in the region.
Medwinpublishers, 2019
Yarsagumba (Ophiocordycecps sinensis) is one of the highly expensive and potential medicinal mushrooms in the world. Owing to the herb's high efficacy and potency in curing various diseases, it is well known as an important nourishing tonic. The study has attempted to gather the information regarding Yarsagumba, its associated species, various medicinal uses, and marketing channel. Out of 15 plots, only 3 plots were recorded the Yarsagumba with the frequency of 0.2 which was very low compared to other medicinal plants. We randomly recorded the Yarsagumba with Mean and Variance ration of 0.04 with a density of 833 (No)/ha equal to 0.5 kg/ha in the effective area. There was an imbalance between the population of moths and spores of Caterpillar fungus. There were increasing trends of Cordyceps sinensis market, heavily depended on Chinese buyers. The Chinese companies send agents to collect Yarsagumba directly from the fields. And they pay US$ 10/piece to villagers (according to the latest field study, June 2018). China is the largest producer of Yarsagumba and meets 95 per cent of the world demand. Nepal is the second largest supplier of the fungus. Expansion of marketing channel is essential for getting more benefits focusing on localYarsagumbàs collectors. It was observed that only 14.51 percent of men were participated to collect the Yarsagumba because the majority of men migrated to India and overseas for searching the jobs. Therefore, women would play a vital role in the sustainable harvesting of Yarsagumba. Different pharmacological actions such as antiasthma, antineoplastic, antibacterial as well as actions on the heart and blood vessels, and on the smooth muscles of the intestine and uterus have been reported. Government of Nepal should prepare a national Yarsagumba management policy and local Yarsagumba management guidelines to address conflicts by clearly defining the roles, responsibilities, and rights of local institutions and actors. The Makalu Barun National Park should also prepare the separate management plan for sustainable harvesting so that local people would enhance their income, and the government would also increase income through royalties.
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2016
The caterpillar fungus, Yartsa Gunbu (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung et al.), offers one prime example of the phenomenon, where a resource of immense economic value runs the risk of being over-exploited, more so when its exploitation remains a 'common property resource'. The everincreasing demand of the commodity in the international markets and concomitantly its ever-increasing price, hovering at present at US$ 20,000 per kilogram locally, has resulted in not just its rampant exploitation but also the degradation of the very habitat, thus endangering its sustainability. The present study conducted across 9 broad study sites, across 110 villages and 2511 harvesters, within the Pithoragarh district, Central Himalaya delves into the following broad objectives; (i) quantity of the harvested lot from the region; (ii) effect of over-harvesting visa -vis the degradation of the prime habitat on the quantity harvested each year, as also (iii) its effect on the population size of the host larva (Thitarodes), and lastly, (iv) comparative study of the income generated out of the sale of Yartsa Gunbu, with the traditional sources of income. Field visits were made to each of the village; information was gathered through open-ended questionnaire. Host population size study was conducted in three selective sites through hand-sorting method. While overall quantity of the harvested lot has shown an increase; habitat-wise the quality harvested has shown a perceptible decline in three broad study sites, a trend likely to be replicated by rest of the sites, which currently though is experiencing an increased yield.
How can Collection of Wild Edible Fungi Contribute to Livelihoods in Rural Areas of Nepal
2005
countries. Only very few species of fungi are being exported from Nepal, and compared to neighbouring countries there is still a potential to be exploited. However, a system of quality control and training of local people must be considered to use this potential. Also, a better understanding of the ecology and management of the wild edible fungi is necessary for the development of a sustainable use of the resource.
Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in the Western Himalaya
Oryx
Rural communities in developing countries extract provisioning ecosystem services from the natural environment to meet their subsistence needs, generate cash income and create employment opportunities. Caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as yartsagunbu in Tibet and in the literature on this subject, is a medicinal resource extracted by the mountain communities of the Himalaya. Studies of the contribution of the fungus to local livelihoods in the Indian Himalaya are scarce. We investigated trade and harvest and analysed the contribution of caterpillar fungus to household economies in 32 villages in Dhauliganga Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, in the Western Himalaya. Caterpillar fungus harvesting has become an integral part of local livelihoods in the study area, and on average contributes c. 74% of household cash income. The majority of harvesters perceived that harvesting had become more difficult during 2010–2015 as a result of competition and a decline in abund...
Trees, Forests and People, 2021
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The products obtained from forests or other natural environments play a crucial role to sustain livelihoods of the poor people in developing countries by fulfilling their livelihoods needs, generating household incomes, creating employment opportunities, and providing a safety net. Although a significant number of studies aimed at measuring the dependence of local people’s livelihood on environmental products, quantifying the linkage between poverty and biodiversity, and assessing the impacts of the resource depletion on the household economy, most of the studies are geographically focused in the tropics. This study conducted in a mountainous village of Jumla, Nepal quantifies the economic contribution of Yarsagumba to the local households. Yarsagumba income contributes up to 65% of the total household cash income in average and contribution is the highest to the poorest households. Yarsagumba income contributed in reducing income inequality by 38% and was utilized to purchase food and clothes, celebrate festivals, medical treatment, and children’s education and for savings. There was an average annual decline of 25 pieces in per capita harvest of Yarsagumba in the last five years. However, the decline had no adverse impact on the household income as the earning was compensated by the increased price.
The harvesting and selling of yartsa gunbu (literally 'summer grass, winter worm' ; Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is contributing to economic and social transformations across the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayan region faster than any development scheme could envision. Meanwhile, the rising demand for the commodity has been linked to violence and environmental degradation, and has generated concerns over resource sustainability. Although good data is emerging on harvesting practices, medical uses, and the booming market for yartsa gunbu, especially in Tibetan areas of China, little systematic research has explored village-level management practices and socioeconomic impacts. This paper seeks to partially fill that void through a case study of the yartsa gunbu harvest in Nubri and Tsum, contiguous valleys in Nepal inhabited by ethnic Tibetans. Using data from household surveys and in-depth interviews, the authors describe the process of gathering and selling yartsa gunbu within the parameters of management practices that combine religious and secular regulations over natural resources. The authors conclude with a discussion of the indigenous management system in relation to sustainable development.
Collection and use of wild edible fungi in Nepal
Economic Botany, 2008
Collection and Use of Wild Edible Fungi in Nepal. The significance of the contribution of wild edible mushrooms to rural livelihoods is acknowledged, but remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the collection of wild edible Nepalese fungi, which species are used, and what are the specific characteristics of the collectors and the collection. Data were collected using 282 structured questionnaires, interviews, and forest walks in 17 districts, environmental household accounts from 413 households in two communities, and a review of literature. A total of 228 species of wild fungi are confirmed to be used for food, and collection is most widespread among the high-mountain Tibeto-Nepalese ethnic groups, which collect an average of 18.1 kilograms (kg) fresh mushrooms per year per household, with some households collecting as much as 160kg. We found no relation between wealth status and subsistence collection, although the commercial collectors are predominantly the poor earning up to six months of unskilled labor salary per season. Given the limited local trade and occurrence of globally marketed species, the scope for increasing contributions to rural livelihoods from collection of mushrooms, and risks in relation to this are briefly discussed.