Nagori Ashwagandha

Nagori Ashwagandha Latest News

The Prime Minister recently presented GI-tagged Nagori Ashwagandha as a traditional Indian gift during the G7 Summit in France, symbolizing India’s rich Ayurvedic heritage and traditional knowledge systems.

About Nagori Ashwagandha

• It is a premium variety of Ashwagandha,  sourced from the Nagaur region in Rajasthan.
• Nagaur’s dry climate and sandy soil are ideally suited for Ashwagandha cultivation.
• It has longer, thicker roots rich in medicinal compounds, particularly alkaloids.
• Its berries are known for their dark, bright red colour, which is considered a clear indicator of superior quality.
• It has brittle and starchy roots. 
• It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in January, 2026.

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Key Facts about Ashwagandha

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important medicinal plant cultivated in regions of South Asia, Africa, and Central Asia.
• Other names: Indian ginseng or Indian winter cherry
• It is a small perennial shrub growing up to 35–75 cm in height. 
• It has been in use as a medicinal plant for thousands of years, especially in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
• It was first mentioned by the learned Punarvasu Atreya over 4000 years ago. 
• Subsequently, the medicinal properties of this plant were mentioned in Ayurvedic treatises such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Astanga Hridaya, Bhava Prakasha Nighantu, etc. 

Ashwagandha Benefits

• It is often called an adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stressors and restore balance.
• Its other benefits are reducing inflammation, increasing energy, alleviating anxiety, ease pain, and improving sleep.
• Different parts of the ashwagandha plant, such as the root, leaves, and berries, may have different concentrations of bioactive compounds.

Required Climatic Conditions for Ashwagandha

• It grows in dry and subtropical regions.
• Soil: It grows well in sandy loam or light red soil having pH 7.5 to 8.0 with good drainage. 
• Climate: It is grown as a late rainy season (kharif) crop. 
• Rain: The semi-tropical areas receiving 500 to 750 mm rainfall are suitable for its cultivation as a rainfed crop. 
• Temperature: It can tolerate a temperature range of 20 to 38 degree Celsius.
• Major Ashwagandha-Producing States in India: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra.

News: ICAR