Herb collectors spend three months in caves

By Our Correspondent,Humla, Jan. 25: The locals of the southern villages of Changkheli Rural Municipality in Humla district have to stay in caves for months while collecting herbs from the forests. The herb collectors have been staying in the caves at night due to a lack of houses in the area and tents to spend the nights. 

Jaimal Budha, a local of Changkheli Rural Municipality, said that they had to walk for a whole day to reach Changkheli forest, and they had to live in the caves while collecting the herbs. He said, “We collect the herbs in the jungle throughout the day and live in the cave at night for about three months.” 

He said they prepared meals by making fires near the caves.  He said, “We carry rice, vegetables, utensils and beds from home and sleep in the cave by making fires in the night.” 

He said that the locals of more than nine villages of Changkheli Rural Municipality have been living in the four caves of the forest while collecting herbs for many years. As it did not snow this year till the last week of January, the locals are still busy collecting herbs, Budha said.   

Another herb collector, Ubjan Rokaya, who has been living in the cave every time he reaches the forest to harvest herbs, said that cold made their life difficult in the night. He has been collecting herbs continuously for the last 15 years. The income from herbs collecting is good but there is a fear of being affected by cold-related diseases as they have to sleep in the cold cave, he said. 

There are four caves in the forest and after October/November, the herb collectors occupy them. The locals spend almost three months in the caves of the forest. 

Mostly only males go to collect the herbs. Of them, young men cook meals, collect firewood and fetch water. Each man has collected three to four quintals of herbs this season.