The exports of Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), a prized Himalayan herb, from Nepal have dropped to their lowest level in four years, according to recent data from the Department of Customs. Figures from the first 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY) show that both the volume and value of exports have declined significantly compared to the same period in previous fiscal years.

Nepal exported just 506 kilograms of Yarsagumba during this period, valued at Rs 215.4 million. This marks a sharp decline of Rs 426.9 million compared to the previous fiscal year, when 1,313 kilograms of Yarsagumba worth Rs 642.3 million were exported from Nepal.

In FY 2021/22, Nepal exported 476 kilograms of Yarsagumba valued at Rs 296.7 million, while the following year (FY 2022/23) saw a marginal increase to 490 kilograms worth around Rs 300 million. The current year’s figures represent a significant reversal of that trend.

Niranjan Bahadur Chalise, president of the Nepal Yarsagumba Association, attributed the fall in exports primarily to reduced production. He cited the growing impacts of climate change, particularly reduced snowfall in the Himalayan regions, as a key factor. He spoke with New Business Age and said, “With less snow, the ecological conditions for Yarsagumba to thrive have deteriorated, leading to lower harvests and ultimately reduced export volumes.”

Environmental experts also point to shifting weather patterns and rising temperatures as threats to the natural habitat required for Yarsagumba growth. Chalise emphasized the need for government intervention to support conservation and boost sustainable production, warning that Nepal's position in the global Yarsagumba market could further weaken without strategic action.

China remains Nepal’s largest export destination for Yarsagumba, although exports to the Chinese market have also declined. In the first 11 months of this FY, Nepal exported 144 kilograms of Yarsagumba worth Rs 38.4 million to China, compared to 571 kilograms valued at Rs 228.8 million during the same period last year.

Chalise also raised concerns about emerging competition from China and India, which have begun producing Yarsagumba under controlled, artificial conditions. He warned that these countries are now positioned as major exporters, potentially undermining Nepal’s share in the global market. “With large-scale artificial production, these nations could soon dominate the sector and pose a serious threat to Nepal’s traditional Yarsagumba trade,” he added.

Beyond China, Nepal also exports Yarsagumba to markets in Australia, Cambodia, Russia, Ukraine, Oman, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.