Bajhang exported medicinal herbs worth Rs400 million in the last seven months. India and China are the major markets for the medicinal plants collected in the district.

The herb yarsagumba, popularly known as Himalayan Viagra, is the top export. Bajhang shipped out 296 kg of yarsagumba valued at Rs390 million, the District Forest Office said. Yarsagumba fetches up to Rs1.3 million per kg.

Similarly, 2,200 kg of pashbed, 200 kg of sugandhwal, 200 kg of bojo, 30 kg of kankadsilo, 40 kg of bhrigiraj and 41 kg of gujargano were exported from the district, the office said.

“The office has collected Rs3.1 million in revenue from herbs,” said Ashok Shrestha, the district forest officer. According to locals, exports of herbs have dropped this year due to unmanaged collection and a drop in demand.

Earlier, there used to be huge demand for herbs like rittha, wild mushroom, bish jara, chiraito, tejpat and gooseberry, among others. However, demand for these medicinal herbs has slowed.

Last year, 113 tonnes of 18 different herbs were exported from the district. The forest office had collected Rs5.5 million in taxes. The largest export was yarsagumba, which amounted to 356 kg worth Rs520 million.

Dan Bahadur Surmeli, a local vendor, said that demand for yarsagumba had shrunk this year too.