Heeng (Asafoetida) Cultivation

Current Context: CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) reported the first flowering and seed formation of Heeng, showing its successful domestication in Indian soil.

About heeng (asafoetida)

• What is Heeng?
  • A spice and medicinal plant (Ferula assa-foetida) used widely in Indian cooking.
  • Extracted as oleo-gum resin from the plant’s roots.
  • Known for treating digestion, bloating, and abdominal pain in Ayurveda.
• Native Regions:
  • Cold deserts of Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia.
  • Grows in low rainfall (below 300 mm) and cold, dry areas.
• Suitable Indian Zones:
  • Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Uttarkashi, and Palampur (HP).
  • Takes 5 years to mature before resin harvesting.
• Significance of Indian Cultivation:
  • India was 100% import-dependent for Heeng (1,200 MT/year).
  • Heeng Resource Centre (2022) established for scaling up cultivation.