Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
Asafoetida (Heeng) cultivation in Himalaya Mountains Research and Status
Government of India Initiative for Asafoetida cultivation to bring down its dependency on imports worth 1500 Tonnes in a year
Asafoetida (Heeng) is a type of herb. It is found from a plant in the Himalayas mountains. Many medicinal properties are found in it. CSIR in association with the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource, Palampur (IHBT) took initiative in October last year for the cultivation of asafoetida in the country. Under this mission, its cultivation has been started in the Himalayan region of the country. Under this 800 saplings of asafetida have been planted in Kwaring village of Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Import of asafoetida 1500 tonnes annually
According to an estimate, India imports asafetida worth about Rs 940 crore every year. India imports about 1540 tonnes of raw asafetida annually. It is mainly imported from Iran, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. In the past also, efforts have been made to cultivate asafetida in the country. but it was not successful.
IHBT is cultivating it in collaboration with the State Agriculture Department of Himachal Pradesh. Experts believe that the production of asafoetida in the country will reduce our dependence on its imports. India imports raw asafoetida. After processing it is sold in the market. It is said that it will take 4 to 5 years to fully start the production of asafoetida from plants planted in India.
