MORINGA IN TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu is a pioneering state which has
so much varied genotypes from diversified geographical areas. Tamil Nadu is one
of the major producing places for Moringa because of its unique flavor and
aroma and has one of the largest producers of moringa with an annual production
of 3.6 lakh tonnes of tender fruits from an area of 7343 ha.
Tamil Nadu, according to the first exclusive Agriculture budget, has identified 7 key moringa zones which are, Tuticorin, Dindigul, Theni, Karur, Erode, Ariyalur, and Madurai. It was said that
Tamil Nadu is set to generate Rs 50,000 crore income in five years, with Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Ariyalur, Tiruppur, and Karur being declared as'Moringa Export Zones.'
"To increase the opportunities for Moringa export, a 'Special
Export Facilitation Center' will be established at Madurai at an initial cost
of Rs. 1 crore” according to the first exclusive
Tamil Nadu Agriculture budget.
A bureaucrat-turned-moringa farmer/exporter M Natchimuthu
(55), hailed the announcement terming it as "a perfectly timed move".
"By declaring moringa export zones, the state is set to generate '50,000
crore income through the foreign exchange in five years," asserted
Natchimuthu, who is engaged in moringa farming and export for over four years.
It can be achieved by increasing the moringa cultivation in Tamil Nadu from
30,000 acres to 50,000 acres of land.
In a hand-holding gesture for moringa farmers, the move
will help form a framework for guidelines and strategies to be adopted for
cultivation, value addition, and marketing techniques to meet the export
standards. As a step towards capacity-building, moringa clusters could be
formed in the export zones, with each cluster specializing in one value-added
moringa product, the move would form a framework on guidelines and strategies
to be adopted for cultivation, value addition, and marketing techniques to meet
the export standards.
With an airport present at Madurai, the special
facilitation center would pave way for more economic activities in the
district, turning it into an international business-to-business hub for
moringa, said Natchimuthu.
The president of the Agrofood Chamber of Commerce and
Industry S Rethinavelu said, "The cash crop can be made into more than 30
value-added products. Local farmers are unaware of the worldwide demand for
moringa. Setting up export zones would educate them about the presence of an
international market for their produce. As the state has also announced about
encouraging students to take up agricultural entrepreneurship, moringa export
business would serve as a feasible and more profitable option for the educated
youth, who could easily become successful agricultural entrepreneurs."
Natchimuthu shared, "Tamil Nadu accounts for 24% of
world moringa production, widely cultivated in Theni, Dindigul and Tiruppur
districts and the state is home to six out of the 13 popular moringa varieties
in the world.”
Diverse varieties and cultivars types of
moringa are found in specific parts of India. Among the released varieties and
local types, only PKM 1 and PKM 2 have the most popular and better export
preference.
The Horticulture Research Institution of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in southern India created them. Because of their wide adaptability to various soils and suitability for areas with shorter growing seasons and colder climates, these varieties revolutionized the food production industry in India, rapidly replacing 60 percent of the old long-lived (perennial) moringa species in the southern states of India.
PKM1
PKM1 is an early variety with a bushy form and medium to a dwarf size that grows to a height of 4 m in the first year after planting and regrows quickly after cropping. The leaves are broad and dark green on the top and pale green on the bottom. This variety is ideal for high-intensity cultivation of leaves and may be the most widely planted variety for large-scale plantation drumstick production. Flowers can be produced within 3-4 months of sowing, and the first pods can be harvested in as little as 6-7 months. Despite the fact that the flowers are in clusters of 25–150, only one pod, rarely two or four, develops. The pods reach edible size 65 days after flowering, are 45 – 75 cm long, uniform in length and color, tender even when harvested late, and tasty. Their flexible shape reduces breakage and gives them a longer shelf life. Each tree yields 200-400 pods. They can produce 50-54 tonnes of pods per hectare and 1 tonne of seed.
PKM2
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