Nileshwar to become ‘Moringa hub’ after tree declared official town symbol; ₹5 lakh allocated for project

Recognizing the medicinal value of Moringa (drumstick) and its growing demand in the national and international market, Nileshwar municipality declared the tree as its official symbol and launched an initiative to turn the town into a ‘Moringa hub’.

The non-governmental organization will launch a ‘Three Moringa in Every Garden’ campaign, in which three saplings will be distributed free of charge to every household. Deputy Prime Minister Sandhya said: Hindu A nursery will be developed with the support of Kudumbashree to ensure stable supply of quality planting materials.

“The municipality also plans to establish a small-scale industry network centered on value-added moringa products with technical back-up from agricultural research centers at Pilicode and Padannakkad,” she said and added that the aim is to market products ranging from dried leaves and powder to seeds and roots in domestic and global markets,

Ms. Sandhya said the global demand for moringa leaves has increased sharply due to its reputation as a superfood. Health-conscious consumers are driving demand for dried leaves and powder in particular. Plant parts, including leaves, seeds and roots, are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and minerals.

“Moringa was once widely grown in homes and was part of the daily diet. We wanted a project that would improve the health of women and children while also generating income. Moringa emerged as a natural choice,” he said.

He added that in addition to strong local demand, there is also a significant consumer base in countries such as the USA, Germany, England, France, Japan and Canada. The nutraceutical and supplement industries generate the highest demand, followed by the food and beverage and personal care sectors.

Ms. Sandhya said ₹5 lakh has been allocated for the project in the annual budget 2023-27. Interestingly, this is not the first such initiative in the region. Last year, Kasaragod district panchayat became the first district in the country to officially designate its own tree, flower, bird and species.

District panchayat declared Kanjiram (Strychnos nux-vomica) as the official tree of Periyal Polathali (Crinum malabaricum) as the county flower, the White-Bellied Sea Eagle as the county bird, and the Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle as the county species. The move was seen as an important step in strengthening conservation efforts for these species. City officials expressed hope that the moringa declaration will similarly increase health and conservation efforts while creating new livelihood opportunities.