KATHMANDU: Karnali province collected over Rs 40 million in revenue from the export of medicinal herbs during the last fiscal year.
According to the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Karnali province, a total of Rs 41,768,999 was generated from the sale of 58 species of herbs.
Information Officer Mahesh Nepali stated that the highest revenue was recorded from lichen (jhyau). With a tax rate of Rs 50 per kg, the export of 181,609 kg of lichen generated Rs 9,585,400. Similarly, the export of 96,792 kg of jatamansi, taxed at Rs 75 per kg, contributed Rs 8,788,875 to the provincial revenue.
Revenue from yarsagumba amounted to Rs 7,544,371. The ministry reported that 251.656 kg of yarsagumba was exported, with a tax rate of Rs 31,000 per kg. Additionally, the sale of 34,445 kg of katusi generated Rs 2,381,680, while 41,732 kg of setak chini brought in Rs 2,046,575.
Other notable contributions included Rs 1,939,400 from timur, Rs 977,850 from shilajit, Rs 950,580 from sugandhawal, and Rs 947,838 from rittha.
The ministry noted that out of a total of 2,158,582.945 kg of herbs collected during the fiscal year, 1,946,875.705 kg were exported from the province.
