[ad_1]
Chencho Dema
PUNAKHA – A kilogram of high-quality cordyceps was sold for Ngultrum 33.41 lakh at a recent cordyceps auction held at the Chhoekor Gewog centre.
The auction was held from July 15 to July 18, with the minimum bid at this year’s auction being 565,000 Ngultrum per kilogram.
Last year, the highest bid reached Nu 4.3 million and the lowest bid was Nu 680,000. Last year’s auction had 31 bidders.
The total amount of cordyceps collected in Bumthang this year increased to 70.57 kg from 49 kg last year. In 2022, a total of 88.2 kg was collected.
A total of 70.57 kg of cordyceps was collected at the auction, of which 39.68 kg was sold at the auction, while another 30.89 kg was withdrawn by the seller in the hope of fetching a better price at other auctions.
The auction was held for the Chhoekor and Chumey sects. Although 42 bidders registered, only 21 showed up at the auction.
Ram Bdr Lama, senior marketing officer at the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC), said that although the price of cordyceps was higher last year, the average price of cordyceps is higher this year. “Some sellers withdrew from the auction hoping to make more money.”
Buyers have been searching for better prices between different auction venues. This year, Chhoekor issued 510 cordyceps collection permits and Chumey issued 778, compared with 601 last year.
Despite the high number of permits for Chumey gewog, there are fewer sellers in the area. “This is a general trend. Maybe the permit holders are not picking cordyceps, or they choose to sell their cordyceps at other auctions,” said Ram Bdr Lama.
The forestry department collected Nu600,000 in royalties this year, up from Nu412,574 in royalties last year but down from Nu741,694 in royalties in 2022.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the cordyceps auctions in 2020 and 2021 were suspended, and the first lockdown also disrupted the auction in 2020. However, DAMC still held an auction for Wangdu Dzongkha Collector in 2020. In 2021, DAMC organized an auction for Bumthang Collector at their request.
The next auctions will be held in Dangchu and Sephu sects, followed by Kazhi sect in Wangdue, Khatoed and Tashithang in Gasa, Tshento in Paro, Lingzhi and Naro in Thimphu and Bumdeling sect in Trashiyangtse.
[ad_2]
Source link
