Himachal Pradesh to become first state in India to have organised cultivation of Mulethi.

• For the first time, Himachal Pradesh (HP) has begun the commercial cultivation of liquor ice (Mulethi) with the distribution of planting material among the farmers by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)- Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT).
• Mulethi fetches high demand in India which is not only used as a spice but in ayurvedic medicines also due to its medicinal properties, presently it is largely imported from other countries.

About Mulethi

• Mulethi is a perennial shrub having sweet roots due presence of glycyrrhizin, which is 50 times sweeter than sucrose and it is used as a natural sweetener in herbal medicines, flavouring in candies and tobacco. It is also used in traditional medicine against treating chest and lung diseases etc.
• Mulethi is grown mainly in Afghanistan, while minor producing countries include Pakistan, China, Nepal and India.
• India imports 8047 tonnes of liquorice annually from Afghanistan, China and Nepal.
• Realising the large import of liquorice in the country, it was envisioned to extend its production area through initiating organized cultivation after identifying the potential areas in HP The districts of Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Una, Solan and Sirmour in HP have potential areas for its cultivation.