Heeng cultivation starts in India for first time

News: Heeng(Ferula assa-foetida) cultivation has started for the first time in India in Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.

Facts:

• Heeng(asafoetida): It is a herbaceous plant of the umbelliferae family.It is a perennial plant which produces oleo-gum resin from the roots after five years of plantation.
• Climate: It can be grown in unutilized sloppy land of cold desert regions.
• Significance: It is one of the widely used spices in Indian cuisine since time immemorial.There is no production of heeng in India and currently it is being imported annually from Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan.
• Benefits: It has a range of medicinal properties, including relief for digestive, spasmodic and stomach disorders, asthma and bronchitis. It is also commonly used to help with painful or excessive bleeding during menstruation and premature labour.