March 22: Nepal exported yarsagumba, a prized herb with medicinal value, worth more than half a billion rupees in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country exported 1,277 kilograms of yarsagumba worth Rs 621,184,000 from mid-July to mid-March.

Compared to the first eight months of last year, Yarsagumba exports have increased by 70 percent in terms of value and by 126 percent in terms of volume. From mid-July to mid-March of last year, Nepal exported 564 kg of yarsagumba worth Rs 363,402,000.

During the review period this year, Nepal exported yarsagumba to Australia, Austria, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and other countries.

Most of the yarsagumba were exported to Hong Kong. The country exorted 571 kilograms of yarsagumba worth Rs 271,051,000 to Hong Kong alone.

After Hong Kong, Nepal exported the largest quantity of yarsagumba to China. During the review period, Nepal exported 412 kilograms of yarsagumba worth 228,775,000 rupees were exported to China. Similarly, 88 kilograms of yarsagumba worth Rs 45,121,000 were exported to Cambodia, according to the department's data, .