"Yak Trade Revival and Economic Opportunities in Himalayan Regions: Insights from the Sherpa Community"

 The Tatopani border factor, positioned in Olangchung Gola of Taplejung district, has been closed for approximately 4 years now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the coronavirus infection unfold from China to diverse international locations, along with Nepal, the Tatopani border factor turned into shut down. Communities within the bordering areas were demanding the reopening of the border point as it affects their get entry to to low-priced items.

China had closed the border point due to worries of the coronavirus spreading via go-border trade. A team of chinese people, who had come for avenue construction, turned into stopped from coming into the area via the Riwo Rural Municipality management as a precaution in opposition to the pandemic.

Because of the spread of coronavirus of their personal united states of america and the risk of it spreading some place else, the Tatopani border factor had remained closed for pretty a while upon the request of the nearby management. Groups in the border areas, including Yalangma, Thudam, Olangchung Gola, and Tokpegola, closely depend on the chinese marketplace for every day consumable items.

Factors like floods, landslides, and different calamities have made it hard for local citizens to get right of entry to the Tatopani border point. Tansing Sherpa, a resident of Faktanglung-7, mentioned that around 90% of the groups in Phaktanglung-7, Olangchung Gola, Yalangma, and Ghunsa vicinity were dependent on the chinese language marketplace.

Tansing Sherpa stated, “For a long term, because of the closure of the Tatopani border factor, critical meals and different resources from China were reduce off. Even salt and vital food resources required for day by day lifestyles are not coming.”

With the halt in alternate with China, the VDC Chairperson of Faktanglung-7, Cheten Bhote, highlighted the monetary repercussions. The principal exchange, mainly in Chiraito, Yarchagumba, and livestock products, has confronted a considerable setback.

The area of Olangchung Gola, located at an altitude of about 3,200 meters above sea level is the primary livelihood supply for communities engaged in change, enterprise and animal husbandry. Further the groups in Yalangma, placed at an altitude of round 4,2 hundred meters above sea degree have been also depending on the chinese market.

Kanchanjanga Conservation location control Council’s Assistant program Coordinator, Jiten Chemjong, mentioned that when the Tatopani border point closure, essential food substances have been being transported to Taplejung thru smuggling routes.

Because the Tatopani border point remained closed, change between China and Nepal was seriously impacted, inflicting economic difficulties in Faktanglung-6. The principal products like Chiraito, Yarchagumba, and cattle objects that have been traded to China were now not finding markets, leading to an economic disaster.

Because of the closure of the Tatopani border factor, groups in areas like Gola, Yalangma, Ghunsa, and Falak had been relying on the Faktanglung-6 market in the absence of change with China. This dependency at the nearby marketplace of Faktanglung-6 in addition extended the cost of residing for these groups.

Gyabu Sherpa, a resident of Yalangma, highlighted that they used to have round 32 yaks two years in the past, however now they have around 64 yaks. The dearth of income within the chinese market because of the pandemic has led to an growth inside the variety of yaks within the place.

However, the closure of the Tatopani border point has brought about demanding situations even for households who engage in smuggling items for private use. In such cases, the cost of transporting goods from Lhasa to Olangchung Gola, Yalangma, Falak, and Ghunsa, which can be situated at altitudes ranging from 3,200 to 4,500 meters, is higher than the cost of the products themselves.

Till currently, motors from China used to carry items up to the border factor, but this has modified because the border closure. As a result people from the area want to travel to Lhasa to purchase goods and then shipping them back to their homes which appreciably increases their expenses.

People are dealing with difficulties in exporting products like Chiraito from Yalangma to China. The VDC Chairperson of Faktanglung-7, Rajkumar Rai, highlighted that they had been facing challenges as they used to sell merchandise to traders who visited households inside the region, but now there are no such visits.

In conclusion the closure of the Tatopani border point due to the COVID-19 pandemic has notably impacted the livelihoods and alternate sports of communities inside the bordering regions of Nepal. The dependence at the chinese language market for essential goods in addition to the challenges in transportation and alternate have caused monetary hardships for these groups.

The yaks of Fincho Sherpa’s farm have now not been offered for the past 4 years. Sherpa, who had 25 yaks 4 years ago, now has 60 yaks. He revealed that he named his yaks “Dee” and “Bhaale”.

At an elevation of 3,500 to 5,000 meters above sea level, the vicinity is suitable for each yak and Dhee (lady yak) breeding.

Sonam Sherpa from Yangma stated that diverse products including Chhurpi (dried cheese), hides, and other livestock goods comprised of Nepali yaks, Dhees, and Chauri yaks are offered in chinese language markets at correct charges.

Within the chinese marketplace, yaks are bought for charges starting from 60,000 to 150,000 Nepali Rupees according to yak. Chhurpi and hides are offered for round 1,2 hundred Nepali Rupees per kilogram, as informed via Phimjo Sherpa from Yangma.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the yak change has been impacted. Ring Sherpa, a yak businessman from Papung of Mikwakhola Rural Municipality-five in Kimathanka, shared this records.

The Mikwakhola-5 Tokpegola area, which has yak herds, became acknowledged for exporting Chauri yaks and cattle merchandise to various chinese markets through Kimathanka of Tibet. There are round 35 yak herds within the Tokpegola location, in line with Dandu Lama, the Deputy Chairperson of Mikwakhola Rural Municipality.

Within the Tokpegkhola place, there are greater than  thousand yaks, as said by way of Chauri Sherpa.

The various nine nearby stages of the district, yak farming is practiced in seven rural municipalities, except for Phungling Municipality and Pathibhara Rural Municipality.

Pema Sherpa from Ghyunsak referred to that due to the ability for worthwhile export to China, the Himalayan network is attracted to yak farming.

The hole of the exchange course from Tiptala to Bhunjyag, scheduled from Bhadra, has excited the 

neighborhood groups. Consistent with Chhetan Walung, the Ward Chairperson of Faktanglung Rural Municipality-7, which incorporates Bhunjyag of Tiptala, the news of the change path’s opening has prompted the humans in the border location.

The chief District Officer, Gomadevi Chemjong, knowledgeable that the manner to open the path has began.

Previously, a virtual assembly was held between representatives from Dingje County of Tibet and Taplejung on April 22, wherein they coordinated to open the path. The request to open the direction changed into made jointly by way of the Ward workplaces of Olangchung Gola, Faktanglung Rural Municipality, and the District management workplace.

China’s authorities have indicated that the path may be opened most effective for change functions and will increase from Tiptala in Bhunjyag, in keeping with Chhetan.

Moreover, the space to Riwo from Tibet is about 35 km. Riwo is a business center in Tibet and has a change middle situated round 25 km from Ghunsa in Taplejung. Efforts were made to construct a middle in Taplejung and Sankhuwasabha.

Whilst the motion of products and those is viable to Riwo from each Nepal and Tibet, the border regions have been excited with the aid of the prospect of clean get entry to.

But, Chhetan mentioned that although the border regions will be able to reach Riwo in Tibet in 3 days, it will take just in the future from Olangchung Gola. Despite the road connection among both international locations, the Nepali facet’s road has been obstructed because of COVID-19.

Consistent with Chhetan, despite the fact that the road from China to Simanaad has been linked, the road from Olangchung Gola to Simanaad, that is within 24 km, is blocked. The road from Simanaa to Ghunsa has been blocked after the unfold of the coronavirus. Although maintenance are wanted, there are not any renovation sources to be had.