TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Indian spices have wide popularity in over the world. One of the most important spices, Heeng (asafoetida) used in Indian cuisine is going to be cultivated for the first time in the country.
Famers from remote Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh have taken up the spice for cultivation with the help of agro-technology developed by a Palampur-based CSIR institution. The first seeling has been planted in Kwaring of Lahaul valley on October 15 and that marks the initiation of its cultivation in India.
Heeng is one of the most used spices in the country. Last year India imported about 1500 tonnes of raw asafoetida from Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan and spent Rs 942 crore.
One of the technical difficulty in India is the lack of planting material for Ferula asafoetida plants. The CSIR’s Palamur-based Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) had brought in its seeds and developed the required agro-technology.
In a report by TOI Sanjay Kumar, director of CSIR-IHBT said,
“The plant prefers cold and dry conditions for its growth. So, it can be cultivated in cold desert areas of Indian Himalayan region — Ladakh and certain areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. The cultivation of Heeng has potential to change the economic condition of people in these areas.”
About the expenditure of cultivation, Kumar said,
“It’ll cost farmers nearly Rs 3 lakh per hectares over next five years and give them a net return of minimum Rs 10 lakh from fifth year onwards. We will in collaboration with state government provide support to farmers with finance and technical know-how. It’ll be a game changer for farmers in cold desert region of the country.”
A time frame of 5 years has been taken to cultivate around 300 hectares for cultivation of asafetida by the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT).
Kumar added,
“It will be cultivated in a staggered manner so that farmers in certain areas would start getting its benefit from fifth years onward before its expansion to more and more areas in Himachal Pradesh and subsequently in cold desert areas of other Himalayan states/UT.”
There are around 130 species of Ferula found in the world. But only Ferula asafoetida is the economically important species used for the production of Heeng.
October 15, along with many other significant bearings also celebrates Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas and along with it now the pious beginning of cultivation of heeng adds more to the value of it.
Source: The Economic Times
