In a move that blends public health, sustainability and local enterprise, the Nileshwar municipality in Kerala has declared the moringa (drumstick) tree as its official symbol and unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the town into a dedicated “Moringa hub.”
Recognising the plant’s well-documented medicinal value and its expanding demand in national and international markets, the civic body has earmarked ₹5 lakh in its 2026–27 annual budget to launch the initiative.
‘Three Moringa in Every Yard’ campaign
As part of the project, the municipality will introduce a “Three Moringa in Every Yard” campaign, distributing three saplings free of cost to each household. To ensure a steady supply of quality planting material, a nursery will be developed in collaboration with Kudumbashree.
Vice Chairperson P.M. Sandhya said the initiative seeks to revive a traditional household crop while aligning with modern nutritional and economic needs. “Moringa was once commonly grown in home compounds and formed part of the daily diet. We wanted a project that improves the health of women and children while generating income. Moringa emerged as the natural choice,” she noted.
Focus on value-added products
Beyond cultivation, the municipality plans to establish a small-scale industry network centered on value-added moringa products. Technical support will be provided by agricultural research centres at Pilicode and Padannakkad.
The objective is to market a range of products including dried leaves, powder, seeds and roots both domestically and globally. Demand for moringa leaves and powder has surged in recent years due to the plant’s reputation as a “superfood,” rich in vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and essential minerals.
According to municipal officials, strong consumer bases exist in countries such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Canada. The nutraceutical and supplement industries currently drive the highest demand, followed by food, beverage and personal care sectors.
L Building on conservation efforts
The initiative follows a similar symbolic step taken last year by the Kasaragod district panchayat, which became the first in the country to designate official district species. The panchayat declared Kanjiram (Strychnos nux-vomica) as its official tree, Periyal Polathali (Crinum malabaricum) as the district flower, the White-bellied Sea Eagle as the district bird, and Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle as the district species.
Municipal authorities believe the moringa declaration will not only promote conservation awareness but also strengthen local livelihoods and nutritional security.
By combining grassroots participation, women self-help networks and market-driven value addition, Nileshwar’s “Moringa hub” vision aims to turn a traditional backyard tree into a symbol of sustainable development.