Tamil Nadu will generate an income of Rs 50,000 crore in 5 years, with Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Ariyalur, Tiruppur and Karur being declared as ‘Moringa Export Zones’ during Tamil Nadu’s first exclusive Agriculture budget.
Introducing the budget, Minister for Agriculture MRK Panneerselvam said, “Among the various agricultural commodities produced in Tamil Nadu, moringa (drumstick) and its value-added products have huge export potential in various countries due to its high nutritional benefits.”
He has stated that moringa cultivation in Tamil Nadu, the main moringa growing districts namely Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Thoothukudi, Ariyalur, Tiruppur will be recognized as ‘Moringa Export Zone’.
The minister said, “To increase the opportunities for Moringa export, a ‘Special Export Facilitation Center’ will be established at Madurai at an initial cost of Rs.1 crore. Through this centre, the details of moringa farmers, exporters and traders in the importing countries will be collected and export market linkage will be strengthened. The Facilitation Centre will also provide exporters with the details on country-specific quality standards, requirements and regulations required for moringa exporters and schemes implemented by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The centre will be equipped with machinery for value-addition (processing and packaging) such as dryers, pulverisers and automatic packing machines will be provided to facilitate production of value-added products”.
Natchimuthu who has been engaged in the cultivation and export of moringa for over four years, asserted, “By declaring moringa export zones, the state is set to generate Rs.50,000 crore income through foreign exchange in five years”.
The president of Agrofood Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S Rethinavelu said, “The cash crop can be made into more than 30 value-added products. Local farmers are unaware of worldwide demand for moringa. Setting up export zones would educate them about the presence of an international market for their produce.
As the state has also announced about encouraging students to take up agricultural entrepreneurship, moringa export business would serve as a feasible and more profitable option for the educated youth, who could easily become successful agricultural entrepreneurs."
