Notes on A SHORT FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND

ADAPTABILITY OF MORINGA

ECONOMIC VIABILITY
There are different planting geometries to grow moringa. The most important one is intensive
cultivation as tree crop for seed purpose. For this purpose 2-4 ft saplings are transplanted at
10 feet apart rows with 6 feet plant to plant distance. As a result maximum 726 plants can be
planted from Feb to March and then July to September. Cost benefit ratio sheet is attached.
Estimated expenditures per acre are about PKR 73,750 while profits can be earned from PKR
5,50,000 to 12,00,000 if the potential markets are fully explored.

c) Leaf biomass dehydration protocols for preservation of high quality produce

d) Fabrication of moringa seed oil extraction machines
e) Preparation of moringa seed cake for cattle

Government has to take strategic steps to materialize the tangible benefits of moringa in the
society
1) Subsidy: Already planned and approved. PKR 3000 per acre for the purchase of
saplings only
2) Extension: Comprehensive training workshops of extension staff by the experts
and launching of moringa awareness campaign by Agri Extension department
3) Establishment of export quality Moringa Park: At industrial area like Multan
Industrial Zone, an export quality Moringa Park is suggested with following
facilities.
i) Moringa leaf dehydration machines
 Government should provide moringa leaf dehydration machines at
subsidized rates to the farmers. As a result the farmers will be able
to prepare moringa dry powder at farm level for marketing.
 Showcasing, training and sale of dehydration machines for farmers
at Moringa Park
 Training of extension staff / farmers for leaf biomass harvesting,
dehydration and packing.
 Quality testing facilities of the produce.
ii) Moringa seed oil extraction units
The most premium quality produce of moringa is its seed oil. At Moringa
Park, oil extraction units may be established which can rent out the facility
of oil extraction to farmers for free or subsidized rates.
iii) Seed Cake
In Moringa Park seed cake preparation facilities need to be established
which can offer services to the farmers.
4). Establishment of Moringa labs at Moringa Park and at Universities/research institutes
to test and certify the different products.
5). Marketing. A comprehensive marketing plan is needed. The major potential markets for
moringa leaf powder are dairy sector, poultry feed, fertilizer industry to promote it as crop
growth enhancer, herbal supplement to human and animals, cosmetics. Moringa seed oil can
attract cosmetic industry. Moringa seed cake as animal feed.
6). Moringa Consultancy / help desk. To guide the marketing and export of the moringa
experts may be appointed to help/guide the moringa stakeholders for all aspects from
plantation to marketing. Use of print, social, electric and IT may be exploited.

Cost of Production of Moringa as Seed Crop

Moringa Seed and biomass productivity
Moringa Intensive Cultivation for Seed and Oil
(A) Planting density 6 × 10 ft. = 726 plants/acre
(Total plants in 1 acre 6ft × 10ft = 60 ft
2
= 43560 ft
2
÷ 60 ft
2
= 726 plants)
Seed Yield = 0.5 kg/plant
Seed Yield = 0.5 kg × 726 kg = 363 kg / acre (0.363 tons/ acre)
Oil recovery from 1 kg seed is 25% by solvent based extraction while half by cold press
Oil recovery (solvent extraction) = 363 kg × 0.25 = 90 L / acre / year
1 tree produces fresh leaves biomass (once a year at the time of seed harvest by heavy pruning) = 6
kg
Fresh leaves biomass = 6 kg × 726 = 4356 kg / acre / year (4.356 tons/ acre/ year)
Dry powder recovery is 20%
Dry leaf powder recovery = 4356 × 0.2 = 871.2 kg/acre /year (0.8712 tons/ acre/ year)
(21 mounds)
(B) Planting density 6×13 ft. = 558 plants/acre
Seed yield (0.5 kg per plant) =558×0.5= 279 kg seeds/acre /year
Oil recovery (30%) = 83.7 liter /acre /year
Fresh Leaf Biomass production =3348kg or 3.348 tones/acre/annum
Dry Leaf Powder = 669.6 kg or 0.6696 tones/acre /annum
Total no of irrigations:
Nov-Feb: one irrigation per month
March-June = Two irrigations per month
July – Sep = depends on rains
Total no of irrigations = 16-20 /annum
For Nursery raising
Seeds in 1 kg = 3000-6000 = 4000 seeds (average)
1 kg seeds can prepare nursery for = 4000 seeds ÷ 726 trees = 5.5 acres
For 10000 acres require seeds
5.5 acres require seeds = 1 kg
1 acre require seed = 1 ÷ 5.5
Seed required to prepare nursery for 10000 acres
= 1 ÷ 5.5 × 10000 = 1818.18 kg seeds (1.8181 tons/ acre/ year)
Nearly 45 mounds
Moringa Intensive Cultivation for Fodder / Leaf Biomass
Planting density =1ft × 2ft
Plant population = 43560 ft
2
÷ 2 ft
2
= 21780 plants / acre
2 seeds per hill, 4000 seeds per kg = 8-10 kg seeds required for 1 acre
Biomass production
Dry Season (April-June and Oct)
Fresh leaf biomass = 0.3 kg / plant /cutting
= 21780 kg × 0.3 = 6534 kg/ acre (6.534 tons / acre)
Dry powder recovery (20%) = 6534 × 0.2 = 1306.8 kg/ acre (1.3068 tons / acre)
Monsoon Season (July-Sep)
Fresh leaf biomass = 0.5 kg / plant /cutting
Fresh leaves biomass = 21780 kg × 0.5 = 10890 kg/ acre (10.890 tons / acre)
Dry powder recovery = 10890 × 0.2 = 2178 kg (2.178 tons/ acre)
Fresh Leaf Biomass Production = 17424 kg / acre / year (17.424 tones / acre / year)
Fresh Dry Leaf Powder Production = 3,484 kg / acre / year (3.484 tones / acre / year)
Expected moringa Annual production from 10,000 acres after years
6ft × 10ft = 60 ft
2
Total plants in 1 acre= 43560 ft
2
÷ 60 ft
2
= 726 plants
Total plants in 10000 acres = 726 × 10000 = 7260000 plants
Seed Yield per plant = 0.5 kg
Seed Yield per 10000 acre = 0.5 kg × 7260000 kg = 3630000 kg/ acre
(3630 tons/ 10000 acre/ year)
Oil recovery from 1 kg seed is 32%
7260000 trees will produce = 3630000 kg × 0.32 = 1161600 L
1 tree produce fresh leaves biomass = 6 kg
7260000 trees will produce fresh leaves biomass = 6 kg × 7260000 =
43560000 kg/ 10000 acre/ year
(43560 tons/ 10000 acre/ year)
Dry powder recovery is 20%
So, 43560000 kg fresh leaves Dry powder recovery = 43560000 × 0.2 =
8712000 kg/ 10000 acre/ year
(8172 tons/ 10000 acre/ year)
Moringa Recommended Block Dimension
6ft × 12ft = 72 ft
2
Total plants in 1 acre= 43560 ft
2
÷ 72 ft
2
= 605 plants
Total plants in 10000 acres = 605 × 10000 = 6050000 plants
Seed Yield per plant = 0.5 kg
Seed Yield per 10000 acre = 0.5 kg × 6050000 kg = 3025000 kg/ 10000 acre/ year
(3025 tons/ 10000 acre/ year)
Oil recovery from 1 kg seed is 32%
7260000 trees will produce = 3025000 kg × 0.32 = 968000 L
1 tree produce fresh leaves biomass = 6 kg
6050000 trees will produce fresh leaves biomass = 6 kg × 6050000 =
36300000 kg/ 10000 acre/ year
(36300 tons/ 10000 acre/ year)
Dry powder recovery is 20%
So, from 36300000 kg fresh leaves Dry powder recovery = 36300000 × 0.2 =
7260000 kg/ 10000 acre/ year
(7260 tons/ 10000 acre/ year