A 30-yer-old man, resident of the Pistamazor village in the Roudaki district, has been detained on suspicion of being involved in ferula oleoresin trafficking.

According to the Interior Ministry’s website, police have discovered 194.12 kilograms of ferula oleoresin in his house.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the man under the provisions of Article 234 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code -- illegal felling of trees and shrubs; an investigation is under way.  The man faces a fine of 58,000 somoni.  

Currently, only the companies that have special enterprises for processing ferula are engaged in collection of ferula.  

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 Company and the remaining 10 tons were produced by Sarchashmai Javoni Company.

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.