May 6: The duration for cordyceps collection will be limited to one month till research comes out with concrete recommendations.

The start date for the collection will be decided by the community. This was decided at a meeting in the capital yesterday. The meeting was organized to discuss the sustainable management of cordyceps, ensure quality, and protect cordyceps from illegal traders and poachers.

The meeting decided that all household members would be allowed to collect cordyceps irrespective of the age.

Instead of imposing 10% of the final bid price as royalty, the meeting decided to impose 10% or Nu. 7,000 per kg, which ever is lower.

Cordyceps will be sold only through auction and no negotiations will be allowed. Only the highlanders will have the legal rights to collect cordyceps. However, the meeting decided that the term highlanders will have to be defined.

Permits will be issued by the concerned Gups. Ministry of Agriculture will standardize the permit and issue to the Gups.

Agriculture and forestry officials, exporters, representatives from the institute of traditional medicine services, and community leaders from areas where cordyceps are harvested in Thimphu, Gasa, Wangdue, Lhuentse, Trashiyangtse, Haa, and Bumthang attended the daylong meeting.

The Agriculture Minister Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho, the Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, and the Foreign Affairs Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering and parliamentarians also attended meeting.