CULTIVATION OF HEENG AND SAFFRON

June 14, 2020

To increase the production of Heeng and Saffron in India, the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) based in Palampur (H.P) and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Himachal Pradesh, have forged strategic and implementation partnership based on their mutual strengths.

About:

Saffron and Heeng (asafoetida) are widely used spices in Indian cuisine.
In India, the annual demand for Saffron spice is 100 tons per year but its average production is about 6-7 tons per year. Hence a large amount of Saffron is being imported.
Similarly, there is no production of heeng in India and currently about 1200 tons of raw heeng worth Rs 600 crore is being imported from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.
Introduction of cultivation these crops in India will reduce the import.

Source : PIB