Day 13 - Yasagumba!

This is the very first time I have heard of Yasagumba - a small Himalayan bat moth caterpillar living in the Himalayas that has a fungus growing out of its head which is used extensively in Chinese and Tibetan medicine. The Yasagumba can cost upto 15,00,000 - 20,00,000 INR or around 30,000 to 35000 SGD per kilo! It is considered to have aphrodisiac properties.

(Retrieved from http://musetheplace.com/media/uploads/2013/06/yarsagumba.jpgon 10.08.2014)

 

I first heard of Yasagumba in the video of the Askot Abhiyan. I have emotional attachments to this project as my father's friends are closely associated with this. Dr Shekhar Pathak in particular has been an inspiring figure in the hills and it is a privilege to hear from him every now and then. A man of action, Shekhar da has undertaken the Askot Abhiyan every ten years 1974 to date. Awarded the Padmshri by the Indian govt for his work on the hills in 2007, Shekhar da is a humble, passionate environmentalist, who every now and then takes the time to write to me, which is invigorating! He is also the founder editor of PAHAR (People's Association for Himalaya Area Research).

 

In their latest trek from Askot to Arakot, the team found out the damage being done to the hills by the search for the Yasagumba or Yarsagumba. In order to pick the fungus-filled caterpillar, the harvesters clear areas for their camps and light fires to help them pick the caterpillars. The lucrative trade has brought about mafia like operators in the area and the socio-economic as well as environmental face of the Himalayan region is changing because of this.

Following the Askot video I read more about the matter in a BBC report. Yasagumba - BBC report

It is a pity indeed that we are letting go of the traditional wisdom without any consideration of the ecology or the social fabric of the region. I hope the Government does a bit of learning through the Askot project and springs into action with the same gusto as the NGOs.