New Delhi. If we talk about the world’s expensive spices, the first two names that come to mind are saffron and asafoetida. If we talk about the asafoetida that is consumed all over the country, not even a gram of asafoetida is produced in India. But asafoetida is exported to the Gulf countries. The great news is that now asafoetida will be produced in the country itself.
After three years of research, the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) located in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh has achieved this success. Every year, raw material worth Rs 600 crore is purchased from other countries to make asafoetida. There are about 60 units processing asafoetida in Hathras, UP.
The country got such a big success
Institute of Himalayan Bioresources Director of Technology Dr. Sanjay Singh told News18 Hindi, “The raw material for making asafoetida comes from Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Raw material worth Rs 600 crore is purchased in a year. But from this year, the plantation of asafoetida will start in Himachal Pradesh. This plant is planted in our lab.
We have been researching on this for three years in collaboration with the Agricultural Ministry. We have got success in this research. After Himachal, this plant will also be planted in Jammu-Kashmir and Uttarakhand. This plant needs cool and dry weather. This plant is ready in 5 years. However, if someone has tried to plant the plant secretly without any technical help, then it is a different matter. Otherwise, according to the records, this is the first time we are going to plant the plant”.
Raw material for making asafoetida comes from Iran-Afghanistan.
This is how asafoetida is made from raw material imported from abroad
Shyam Prasad, a resident of Hathras and an expert on asafoetida, says that resin (milk) comes from Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This milk comes from a plant. Earlier, traders used to bring milk directly to Hathras. But now Khari Baoli area of Delhi has become a big market. But the processing work is still done in Hathras. 15 big and 45 small units are doing this work. The oleo-gum resin (milk) coming out of the plant is processed along with flour. Now some units have opened in Kanpur as well. Apart from the country, asafoetida made in the country is exported to Gulf countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain etc.
What did the traders of Hathras say on the research
Shubham Bansal, a Hing trader from Hathras, says, “Even after such a long time, we are still dependent on other countries for the raw material of Hing. Due to which Hing is counted among the expensive spices. Yes, once before also an attempt was made to extract milk by planting a plant in Himachal Pradesh. But neither did it give quality nor did the farmer get profit according to the cost. It would be a good thing if this thing gets successful”.
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Tags: Himachal Pradesh
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 12, 2020, 14:21 IST