HERAT (Amu tv): The Herat Directorate of Agriculture and Irrigation says that the cultivation of hing or asafoetida has increased in the province.
According to officials from the directorate, hing requires very little water, making its cultivation economical amid worsening drought and water shortages.
Jalil Ahmad Sagari, Head of Natural Plants at the Herat Directorate of Agriculture and Irrigation, said: “Hing or asafoetida is being cultivated by farmers in the districts of Ghoryan, Zindajan, Karukh, Kushk Rabat Sangi, Old Kushk, and many other districts. Over 800 jeribs of land in Herat are currently under hing cultivation.”
According to farmers, hing resin is not usable inside the country and is therefore exported to various nations, particularly India.
Abdul Ghafour, a farmer, said: “The price of hing drops every day, like the Iranian toman — one price in the morning and another by evening. Prices keep falling daily.”
Several farmers are calling for more facilities to ease the export of their products to foreign markets.
Fasl Ahmad Ahmadi, another farmer, said: “India is the central market for hing resin. It is packaged there and then exported to other countries that show interest. Four years ago, we sent a quantity of hing resin mixed with saffron to a pharmaceutical company in the United States. European countries have also shown interest in hing resin.”
Mohammad Dawood Sarwari, a farmer, said: “If proper mechanisms are put in place, we could easily and systematically export our products from within Afghanistan.”
Hing or asafoetida plants take three years to mature. Once matured, each plant produces resin for 100 days annually and can be tapped up to 25 times during that period.
The market price of one kilogram of hing resin ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 Afghanis.
