Ashwagandha Root Identity, Quality and Trade Evidence

Editorial evidence reviewedReviewed 2026-09-13Release 2026-09-19-batch-230

Market value

$59.75

Producing countries tracked

6

Grading systems

1

Active supply risks

6

Trade corridors

5

Latest reviewed evidence

India's National Medicinal Plants Board cultivation guide reports a 150–180-day crop duration, 650–800 kilograms of fresh roots per hectare yielding 350–435 kilograms of dried roots, an average commercial dried-root yield of 3–5 quintals per hectare and seed yield of 50–75 kilograms per hectare. These are dated agronomic ranges from a cultivation guide, not current production, inventory, extract recovery, lot quality, efficacy or price.

NMPB ashwagandha crop-duration range

150

days after sowing, lower bound; upper bound 180 · dated cultivation guide accessed 2026-09-13

NMPB fresh-root yield range

650

kilograms per hectare, lower bound; upper bound 800 · dated cultivation guide accessed 2026-09-13

NMPB dried-root yield from stated fresh-root range

350

kilograms per hectare, lower bound; upper bound 435 · dated cultivation guide accessed 2026-09-13

NMPB average commercial dried-root yield range

3

quintals per hectare, lower bound; upper bound 5 · dated cultivation guide accessed 2026-09-13

NMPB seed-yield range

50

kilograms per hectare, lower bound; upper bound 75 · dated cultivation guide accessed 2026-09-13

Root, leaf, powder and extract are different products

India's E-Charak medicinal-plant resource identifies the commercial part of Withania somnifera as the root. FSSAI's 2026 advisory separately addresses mandatory root use in Ayush products and non-use of ashwagandha leaves in crude, extract or other form in food products. Atlas therefore records plant part and intended-use jurisdiction before comparing material. A root powder is not equivalent to a leaf ingredient, a whole root or a concentrated extract.

Botanical identity and plant part must stay explicit

Kew accepts Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal and records a broad native range from southern Europe to central China and from Africa to Myanmar. A common name alone does not prove species, geographical origin, cultivated source or plant part. Atlas retains the scientific name stated by the source, root or other part, growing and processing origins, harvest and processing dates, producer, batch and identity or authenticity evidence.

Extract ratio and marker claims need methods and batch evidence

Whole roots, cut roots and powders are characterized differently from extracts. An extract record needs its input plant part, extraction solvent, native extract or carrier basis, drug-to-extract ratio, declared marker such as total withanolides only when accompanied by the analytical method, sample and laboratory, plus moisture, ash, microbiological, pesticide, heavy-metal, residual-solvent and adulteration evidence where applicable. Atlas does not translate a label claim into verified composition or health efficacy.

Agronomic ranges are not a delivered ashwagandha price

The NMPB crop-duration and root-yield ranges are dated cultivation references, not current supply, extract recovery, lot quality or commercial value. A delivered estimate still needs a defined root or extract product, current permitted observations, identity and batch tests, origin, crop and production dates, pack and quantity, intended use and destination compliance, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window, freight and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.

Questions procurement teams ask

Is ashwagandha root powder the same as an extract?

No. Root powder is milled plant material, while an extract has a defined input, solvent and concentration process. Comparability requires the plant part, extraction basis, ratio, carrier and analytical method.

Can ashwagandha leaves and roots be treated as the same food ingredient?

No. Plant part is a material identity and regulatory field. FSSAI's 2026 advisory distinguishes mandatory root use in named Ayush products and addresses non-use of leaves in food products, so the intended product and destination rules must be checked.

What do the 350–435 kilogram figures mean?

They are the dried-root yield range per hectare reported from 650–800 kilograms of fresh roots in the cited NMPB cultivation guide. They are dated agronomic references, not current inventory, a guaranteed farm result or a live price.

Which fields make ashwagandha offers comparable?

Species, plant part, growing and processing origins, whole, cut, powder or extract form, extraction solvent and ratio, marker and method where claimed, identity, moisture, ash, microbiological, pesticide, heavy-metal and authenticity results, crop and production dates, package and lot, quantity, intended use, destination compliance, currency, Incoterm, destination, delivery window and evidence date.