July 21: If people from semi-nomadic highland areas are descending down into the valley carrying bags of cordyceps, it means only thing. It means the cordyceps auction has begun. This year the cordyceps auction began on Friday, July 18 at Dodeyna in Thimphu.

People from Lingzhi and Naro geogs come to Dodeyna to auction their cordyceps.

On Friday, about 130 people from Lingzhi geog gathered at Dodeyna to auction their cordyceps. They brought their precious cargo packed in bags or wrapped in cloth. The price varies but last year, the highest price fetched for a kilogram of cordyceps went as high as Nu. 411,000, twice the annual salary of an average civil servant. The price depends to a large extent on the quality.

On Saturday, the auction price did not go as high but it was not bad going. The highest price was Nu. 161,000.

On Friday, the highest price fetched was Nu. 173,000 a kilogram. They were paid in cash by the potential buyers as soon as the deal was struck.

Some of the sellers said they will renovate their house, buy yaks or pay back loans.

A total of 31 kilograms of cordyceps was sold on Friday by the people of Naro geog earning about Nu. 4.5 million.

On Saturday, the people of Lingzhi sold a total of 52 kilograms earning about Nu. 800,000.

The auctioning of cordyceps was started in 2004 and is organized by the marketing division of the Ministry of Agriculture.