Yarshagumba has been collected by communities for centuries but a 'gold rush' was first triggered in the spring of 2002 when people from neighbouring districts began to risk their lives by camping on the mountain slopes. Until 2001, collection of the fungus had been illegal but in response to its rising popularity and lobbying from various organisations, the government attempted to regulate the industry by lifting the ban and imposing a substantial tax, or "royalty fee", of 20,000 Nepali Rupees (Rs) (US$280) per kilogram collected.
At the same time the trade was legalised, the market price of yarshagumba soared to over NR100,000 per kilo (US$1560), leading to thousands of hopeful harvesters heading to the hills in 2002. However, enforcement of the royalty fee proved ineffective as much of the trade went unreported. The market price of the fungus currently stands at between US$3,000 per kg for the lowest quality to over US$15,000 for the biggest, highest quality larvae.
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