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Currently, Tamil Nadu has 35 export companies cultivating 600 to 800 acres of moringa, producing 720 tonnes of moringa leaf powder annually, valued at approximately ₹30 crore.
| Photo Credit:
MOORTHY M
The Tamil Nadu government has established a Moringa (drumstick) Export Facilitation Centre in Madurai, a key initiative aimed at expanding the State’s footprint in the global moringa market.
India currently meets 80 per cent of the world’s moringa demand, with Tamil Nadu leading in production. According to 2023-24 data from the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, the State cultivates moringa across 20,741 hectares, yielding 841,807 tonnes annually.
Recognising export potential, the Tamil Nadu government launched the Moringa Export Zone as part of the 2021-22 Agricultural Budget. This initiative covers nine districts and includes the Moringa Special Export Service Centre in Madurai, managed by the Tamil Nadu Food Processing and Agricultural Export Development Corporation (TNAPEx).
The global moringa market is projected to reach $1 billion (₹8,300 crore) by 2025, with moringa leaf powder alone contributing $600 million (₹5,000 crore), according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Meeting this demand requires 11,000 acres of moringa leaf cultivation.
Currently, Tamil Nadu has 35 export companies cultivating 600 to 800 acres of moringa, producing 720 tonnes of moringa leaf powder annually, valued at approximately ₹30 crore. However, challenges such as specialized cultivation, processing infrastructure, and market access remain.
Meanwhile, requests have been made to establish market linkage for 50 tonnes of organically grown moringa leaf powder for 2025-26. Additionally, TNAPEx has received interest from private companies for 200 metric tons of annual moringa exports. These agreements will be facilitated through a tripartite arrangement involving TNAPEx, private firms, and farmers.
Published on April 4, 2025
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