(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) Training Programs on Hing Cultivation

[October-2021]

Team CSIR-IHBT conducted 14 on-farm training programs in collaboration with State Agriculture Department, Himachal Pradesh and has so far trained 269 farmers from Mandi,
Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh in the cultivation of Heeng. A capacity building program on Heeng cultivation was also organized for the officers of the State Department of Agriculture, in which twelve officers participated from different districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Monitoring and data recording of Heeng plantations at farmers’ field is being carried out by team CSIR-IHBT from time to time and also through interactions with farmers involved in Heeng cultivation.

Processing of Raw Heeng

The fresh oleo-gum resin is extracted from the root of the Ferula assa-foetida plant and then crushed in a traditional method, between heavy stones or by a hammer – this requires a lot of manpower. But now, the process of crushing the raw asafoetida is done with machines converting it into hard pasty mass. This is followed by compounded asafoetida manufacturing which involves five steps:
Soaking in Water: The pasty mass of asafoetida is soaked in water for a few hours to transform it into a slurry.
Mixing: The base material (corn flour, edible gum) is then mixed in the required proportion using mixers.
The slurry asafoetida is then added to the base material mixture and mixed well.
Milling: Then using a milling machine the compounded asafoetida is crushed into the powder form.
Form: Generally, asafoetida is in powder form but the compounded asafoetida or Heeng can be in different forms.
Packaging: After the manufacturing process the compounded asafoetida or Heeng powder is packed with the help of packaging machine, to maintain its moisture content and quality.