DUSHANBE, June 7, 2016, Asia-Plus – Tajik customs officers have seized 630 kilograms of ferula prepared for smuggling into Kyrgyzstan.
According to the press center of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, customs officers found ten 30-liter tanks loaded with ferula while searching Mercedes of Kyrgyz national Abdulfato Sheraliyev at the border crossing point on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in the Lakhsh district (formerly Jirgatol district in Rasht Valley).
Besides, 500 boxes of ferula and fourteen 20-liter tanks loaded with ferula have been found at warehouse of the limited liability company “Sodiq” in Dushanbe.
“Sodiq” director Jumakhon Sodiqov, Abdulvohid Mengliboyev and their accomplices have been detained and criminal proceedings have been instituted against them; an investigation is under way.
We will recall that only the companies that have special enterprises for processing ferula are engaged in collection of ferula. There are two such companies in Tajikistan – Faroz and Sarchashmai Javoni.
Ferula collected in Tajikistan is mainly exported to Afghanistan and India. The price of one kilogram of ferule reportedly fell from 100.00 USD in 2009 to 40.00-50.00 USD in 2013.
In 2011, 173 tons of ferula were produced in Tajikistan; of this amount, 163 tons were produced by Faroz and the remaining 10 tons were produced by Sarchashmai Javoni.
In 2012, these companies produced 100 tons and ten tons of ferula respectively.
In 2013, Tajik authorities imposed temporary ban on collection of ferula in order to restore areas under this plant.
Ferula is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Apiacease, mostly growing in arid climates. Several species of ferula grow in Tajikistan. One of species of ferula native to Iran and Central Asia is Asafoetida (Ferula assafoetida). It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 2 m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems 5-8 cm diameter at the base of the plant. Asafoetida has certain medicinal uses and most commonly is used as a digestive aid. It is reputed to lessen flatulence and is often added to lentil or eggplant dishes in small quantities. It is also said to be helpful in cases of asthma and bronchitis.
