International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No.30, 275-287
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3.2.1 PKM - 1 Annual Moringa
It is a pure line selection developed by continuous selfing for six generations, collected from Eppothumvendran
village of Thoothukkudi region. In each generation, only long pods and desirable characters are selected and
advanced. It was released in the year 1989. The fruits are fleshy and tasty. It comes to flowering within 5-6
months of sowing and comes to harvest in 7-8 months. The peak harvest is during March-August. The plants
grow to a height of 4-6 m in a year and produce 6-12 primary branches. The pinnate leaves are about 40 cm long
with small leaflets which are dark green on the upper side and pale green on the lower side. Though the flowers
are in clusters of 25-150/cluster, only one pod develops usually and rarely 2-4 develop per cluster. The pods are
75 cm long with a girth of 6.3 cm and weigh 150 g with 70 per cent flesh. The average yield is 220 fruits/tree.
The estimated yield is around 52 t/ha. The pods attain edible maturity 65 days after flowering. The leaves can be
used as a nutritive green. Ratoon crops can be maintained for 3-4 years. After every year the trees have to be cut
back to 1 m from ground level. This variety can be grown as inter crop in coconut orchards during the early
period. Chilli, onion and groundnut can be grown as intercrop in Moringa fields (V. Ponnusamy, 2012).
3.2.2 PKM - 2 Annual Moringa
It is a hybrid derivative of a cross between MP 31 (Eppothum vendran local) and MP 28 (Arasaradi local). It can
be propagated through seeds. The tree comes to bearing six months after planting and is suitable for growing in
different cropping systems. The pods are 126 cm long, with a girth of 8.3 cm and individual fruit weight of 280 g
with 70 per cent flesh. The pods are less seeded and delicious. The average number of pods per tree is
220/tree/year. It yields 98 tonnes/ha. Ratoon crop can also be taken up for three years. It is suitable for growing in
Tamil Nadu and is adapted to most soil types varying from sandy loam to clay loam with good drainage (V.
Ponnusamy, 2012).
In Moolanur block, Moringa is established as an intercrop on field scale and their allies were cropped with
vegetables and Sorghum. This system evolved as Moringa based cropping systems offered some protection to alley
crops from drying winds during summer and Moringa provided some additional income. With the migration of
people from south to north India, and elsewhere in the world, the demand for Moringa picked up and hence area
under Moringa is also found to be increasing.
Farmers found that growing Moringa crops during summer season was remunerative. Thus, Moringa gained a
foothold as a summer vegetable. Its unique flavor and aroma became very popular. For South Indian any meal
without Moringa and pulses is considered incomplete. The demand for the Moringa pod also increased due to
increased urban settlements and migration of people to urban colonies.
4 Objectives of the Study
Any Production activity needs clarity on economics. On realizing the economic benefits that accrue from the
production process, either the entrepreneur or the producer of any activity will give his consent in establishing the
production unit. In Horticulture, Moringa production is one of the principal activity that is gaining importance
across the world and many farmers have resorted their willingness to establish Moringa orchards in their farm
lands for maximizing their profits. Many of the small and marginal farmers are unaware on the economics but
they continue their activity of producing the crops. Whatever the output that comes to them, they get satisfied.
But the enterprising farmers are showing much interest in learning the economics out of Moringa and hence a
study has been initiated in the western and southern zone of Tamil Nadu to quantify the exact income generation
possibilities out of Moringa.
5 Methodology
Among the 31 Districts of Tamil Nadu, only 6 districts have the notable area under Moringa cultivation. Among the 6
Districts, the traditional Moringa growers were belonged to Tiruppur and Thoothukkudi Districts. In these two districts,
area expansion under Moringa is dismal while other districts take a lead in cultivation of Moringa and hence a study has
been initiated to assess the reasons for the same and hence the
Tiruppur and Thoothukkudi Districts were purposively
chosen in the First Stage.
