International Journal of Horticulture, 2018, Vol.8, No.3, 16-28
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quality norms is a must. In this respect, an attempt has also been made to document the status of export of
Moringa to different countries and the issues connected with the export of Moringa to enhance the trade in
horticultural produce. On finding the solutions to the above issues and adoption of the strategies on time that
emanated from the study, the horticultural development could be on the dynamic track and the hassle-free
marketing and export could be visualized.
4 Design of the Study
Among the Vegetables, Moringa is the one which is used very commonly by the people of South India for its
flavour and delicious taste in Sambar and Curry preparation. Besides, it is also a source of several medicinal
properties and hence the crop commands significance in cultivation. Every household will be maintaining one or
two Moringa tree in their homestead considering its importance and is grown almost in all the districts of Tamil
Nadu and South India.
4.1 Sampling design
Among the 31 districts of Tamil Nadu, six to seven districts are excelling in enhancing the area under Moringa
and they play a vital role in increasing the productivity of Moringa. Theni district found to be the topper in
achieving expansion of area under Moringa followed by Dindigul, Karur, Thoothukkudi, Tiruppur, Ariyalur and
Madurai Districts. That is Thoothukkudi District is ranking fourth and Tiruppur District is ranking Fifth in
respect of area under Moringa. Though these districts are traditional tracts for Moringa cultivation, its area
expansion is found to be poor when compared to Theni and Dindigul Districts which are gaining area under
Moringa in recent years and hence special effort has been taken to conduct a study in these traditional tracts for
its failure in enhancing the area expansion schemes focusing Moringa.
To assess the marketing practices followed by the farmers cum traders and the traders whom are exclusively
dealing the Moringa produce, a separate questionnaire has been designed and the questionnaire has been tested
and made fit for survey. Before entering into the survey, the number of traders who are dealing with Moringa
marketing were enlisted by conducting inquiries with the officials of Department of Agriculture and the General
traders in the villages of Sathankulam Taluk and the Dharapuram Taluks. Besides website sources were also used.
From the list, 10 traders in each of the taluk whom are dealing with Moringa and the value-added products of
Moringa were selected and interviewed for the study. The details of villages in which the traders selected were
presented in Table 3.
Table 3 Details of the Traders Selected for the study
Sl.
No.
Name of the Villages in which Traders
Selected in Sathankulam Taluk
Number of
Samples
Name of the Villages in which Traders
Selected in Dharapuram Taluk
Number of
Samples
01
Sasthavinallur
02
Kilangundal
02
02
Naduvakkurichi
02
Komarapalayam
02
03
Mudhalur
02
Mulayampoondi
02
04
Arasoor
02
Mulanur
02
05
Thatchamozhi
02
Puduppai
02
Total Samples under Moringa
10
Total Samples under Moringa
10
For the study as a whole, the aggregate sampling was one hundred farmers whom are cultivating Moringa in their
farms and 20 Traders forming a sum of 120 samples. While Conducting interview, the traders were highly
reluctant and hesitant to furnish the information sought by the researcher in respect of value addition and other
details as they were very busy with the trading activities. In these circumstances, a trader has paid a visit to
Sathankulam to procure Moringa vegetables and they are much interested in organic farms has been approached
and expressed the will of the researcher to the trader and he readily accepted and hence the trader was
interviewed for the study following a case study approach. The name of the case firm contacted is M/s.
Miracletree Life Science has its headquarters at Madurai. The Firm has its own plantation in and around Madurai
which are established in an organic way. The firm is involved in the following activities.
