Is the import substitution story for Mulethi a real opportunity for farmers?

It is true that India imports a large share of its liquorice, but that fact alone does not make it a sure win for you, and promoters often misuse it to sell costly planting material on buyback. The reasons imports continue include the long 2 to 3 year crop duration, the need for the right climate and deep soil, the difficulty of genuine planting material, the labour of deep root harvesting, and the lack of an organised domestic market and price for the farmer. So treat the import story as background, not a guarantee. If you still want to try, source genuine material from a reliable institution, confirm an actual buyer and a written price, start small as a trial, and be prepared to wait years. Do not let an import substitution pitch rush you into a big multi year commitment without verifying the buyer yourself.