Ahmedabad: Driven by unprecedented demand in the international market, both existing and new, the area under cultivation for psyllium husk in Gujarat has grown 356% in five years. According to the state agriculture department’s final sowing estimates, acreage of psyllium husk, also known as isabgol, has grown from a mere 6,024 hectares in 2018-19 to 27,488 hectares in 2024-25.
The crop – predominantly cultivated in Gujarat and Rajasthan – has seen increased popularity in new international geographies, and in newer areas such as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, according to industry players.
“Earlier, demand for isabgol was largely driven by the US, UK, Germany, and Italy. But in the past two years, new markets have opened across the Gulf, the Far East, and even neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh, propelling further demand,” said Ashwin Nayak, president of the Isabgol Processors’ Association.
“Moreover, research is underway to explore the potential and efficacy of psyllium husk in cholesterol and weight management medicines. If the trials are successful, this will drive the demand up by at least 20% over the next couple of years,” Nayak added.
According to spice traders, the US, however, continues to lead the charts for export of isabgol. According to the data by the state agriculture department, the acreage for psyllium husk has grown 142.76% as compared to normal sowing area computed based on the last three years’ average.
The crop also finds applications in the textile and nutraceutical sectors. For the second consecutive year, the cultivation area exceeded 25,000 hectare, suggests the data.
Whilst Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, and Saurashtra remain primary cultivation regions, Banaskantha leads with 90% of India’s isabgol processing and production facilities. Surendranagar and Ahmedabad districts recorded 30% and 20% growth rates, respectively.
Expanding applications and export opportunities transformed it into a profitable venture for Gujarat’s farmers.
“Once confined to digestive remedies, isabgol is now making its mark in unexpected industries. Food processing companies increasingly use it in bakery products, particularly digestive biscuits. The textile and cosmetics sectors, too, have begun incorporating psyllium husk in dyeing, printing, and product formulations. Even its seeds are proving valuable as protein-rich cattle feed, ensuring nothing goes to waste, further making it a win-win for farmers,” said a senior official of the directorate of agriculture (DAG), Gujarat, requesting anonymity.
Agricultural experts, listing isabgol’s advantages, stated that livestock avoids consuming it, it faces minimal pest issues and requires negligible pesticides. These characteristics have encouraged farmers to adopt isabgol cultivation, yielding both financial and ecological advantages, they added.