As the harvesting season draws to a close, Cordyceps collectors in Bumthang are worried that the annual auction maybe affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, laying their fears to rest, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC) said that Cordyceps auctions across the country would take place as usual but with proper COVID-19 preventive measures in place.
A Standard Operating Procedure has been adopted to ensure COVID-19 preventive measures in auction sites. The measures include the deployment of police and Desuups, setting up hand washing facilities and the use of Druk Trace app QR codes at the auction sites. Roadside hotels and stalls will not be allowed this year.
Yonten Gyamtsho, the Chief Marketing Officer of DAMC, said that the auction schedule will be broadcast on BBS TV on July 10 and 18.
While the auction has not been affected, there has been a decrease in the number of exporters registering to participate in the auction this year. Only 20 exporters have registered with DAMC. The Department says normally there would be at least 30 registrations.
Collectors are also worried that international flight restrictions in the country may affect the export business.
It hasn’t been a kind season for the collectors in Bumthang this year. Many of them reported poor harvest due to unusually bad weather conditions. They also lost a young fellow collector to attitude sickness.
A Cordyceps collector, Choeten Dakpa, from Chhoekhor said the last time they experienced heavy snowfall was in 2008 but the one they experienced this year was unusually heavy. “It was snowing almost every other day. So we couldn’t collect the fungus properly.”
Another collector, Yeshey, said people had to return early because of the poor yield. “The snow was around three to four feet and reached up to our waist. So, we had to remain in our tents for weeks.”
Chhoekhor Tshogpa Kencho Norbu said they were confined to their tents for about two weeks due to heavy snowfall. “When the snow melted a bit and we started looking for the fungus, we realized the harvest was poor compared to the last few years.”
Due to bad weather conditions, the agriculture ministry had also extended the harvest season by two weeks.
A Cordyceps collector, Tashi, from Chhoekhor, said that even the two-week extension didn’t help him. “I had to come home early as the yield was very poor this year, and I was running out of ration. I only collected 130 pieces of Cordyceps. Usually I get 600 to 700 pieces.”
Kipchu
