Cordycep or Yartsa Guenbup fetched a maximum price this year as compared to previous years. A kilogram of cordycep was sold for Nu. 12,20,000. Last year, the highest a kilogram of cordycep fetched, was Nu. 5,00,000.
The auction which began early this month saw cordycep collectors from 17 gewogs and 38 bidders. And this year, it was the Food Corporation of Bhutan carrying out the auction.
The auction for 15 gewogs is complete. Two more gewogs, Bumdeling and Khoma will also have the auction on July 28.
This year, the collection of cordycep has decreased. Only about 200 kilograms of cordycep were collected as compared to 500 kg last year.
Marketing officer, Dorji Wangchuk, said with the auction still continuing, it is early to say if the cordycep collection has decreased. “From 2008 onwards we saw not less than 500 kgs of cordyceps from the 17 gewogs.” He said Wangdue Dzongkhag alone used to collect over 100 kgs of cordyceps.
Dorji Wangchuk said if the yield decreases over the years, measures will be put in place. “We already have strategies in place where people are allowed to collect just for a month and only three members from each household are allowed to go for harvesting. However if the yield decreases we might have to stop the harvesting for a year.”
Collecting cordycep was legalised in 2004.
