Herbs collection begins in Humla

By Our Correspondent,Humla, Oct.1: The collection of herbs, which are the main source of income for the locals, has started in the Himalayan district of Humla. Locals have started the collection of herbs in the forest after the community forest has opened herbs collection. This is the season to collect herbs in the forest area.

Shyamjor Lama, a local of Dojam village of Simkot Rural Municipality-1, said that this year’s herb collection work has started in the district.

He said that after the Community Forest opened to people for collection of herbs, more than 500 local residents have gone to the forest with a plan to stay overnight to collect herbs.

He said that it is the right time to collect herbs, which are the main source of income for the locals. The collectors have started collecting Jatamasi and Kutki.

Previously, the collection of herbs used to start from mid-August, but this year the collection was started at the end of September due to delayed opening of the forest by the community forest.

Another collector, Jauka Bhandari of Simkot Rural Municipality-6 said that the herbs are found well in the forest.

Bhandari has been collecting herbs for ten days. At least one to three people from most of the households in that ward have gone out to collect herbs.

Stating that the main source of income is the collection of herbs, he said that he has aimed to earn Rs. 300,000 from the sale of herbs this year.

Although the collection has been started, no one has started the sale, he said.

Traders have started coming to the collectors daily for purchase, but the collectors are still preparing to sell after determining the price.

Ram Bahadur Bhandari, herbs trader, said that the supply of herbs from the district will increase this year even though the supply dropped last year due to reduced collection of herbs.

The collection work will continue until mid-November this year.