Kyrgyzstan is developing ferula cultivation as a promising source of income for farmers

The Ministry of Water Resources has stated the high ecological, economic and financial value of cultivating ferula for local farmers. Ferula is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in stony areas and requires little maintenance, making it a promising crop for development in the country.

The main commercial product of ferula is asafetida resin, which is harvested from cuttings of the roots and rhizomes of the plant. A considerable amount of manual labour is required to produce the resin, as it is collected from plants at least five years old, yielding 50 to 130 grams of resin per plant.

Asafetida is widely used in folk medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetology and cookery, which makes it in demand in the market.

Experts note that cultivating ferula can be 15-30 times more profitable than the traditional use of pastures. Experts estimate that income from one hectare of land can range from $200,000 to $400,000, which gives farmers good prospects for increasing their income.