Moringa flowers: From fields to gardens

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, Mar. 16: As winter fades and summer sets in, fields, gardens, farmlands and roadsides in the Tarai region are turning white with blooming moringa (sahijan) flowers.

This versatile vegetable's flowers have transformed the scenery from the Chure hills to the plains of Madhes, adorning the landscape with their pristine white blossoms.

The pure, fresh and delicate flowers have changed the very appearance of the trees, which were previously hidden beneath green foliage. Now, they resemble snow-covered shades. Butterflies, bees and tiny hummingbirds swarming to collect nectar have further enhanced the ecological significance of these trees.

Rich in nutrients and medicinal properties from leaves to flowers, drumstick plants are known by various names based on region, language and culture. In Madhes, it is called ‘Sahijan’ or ‘Munga’; in the hills, 'Sheetalchini', in Sanskrit, ‘Shobhanjana’; and in English, 'Drumstick' or ‘Moringa.’ 

This low-maintenance plant is easy to cultivate. Planting a branch after harvesting its pods allows it to regrow and bear fruit the following year. It requires no fertilisers, seeds, ploughing or pest control, making it an organic vegetable. 

Due to its adaptability, moringa trees thrive in barren, rocky or sandy soil, making them a common sight in home gardens. 

In Charghare village of Bardibas-6, Ganga Maya Baniya has a five-kattha plot of land along the Ratukhola riverbank. While she grows seasonal crops in the field, she has planted 10 moringa trees along the edges.

“Last year, I earned about Rs. 20,000 by selling moringa fruit after using some for my family and gifting some to relatives,” she said. Encouraged by this income, she plans to plant more trees next month. “When the fruits are ready to harvest, buyers directly contact us to purchase them. This year, I am planting 10 more branches,” she added.

According to local youth Netra Bahadur Karki, the small Charghare settlement with around 50 households collectively hosts nearly 200 moringa trees. He estimated that the village produced moringa pods worth Rs. 2 to Rs. 2.2 million last year. Even after home consumption, the community earned around Rs. 1 million in cash.

Charghare is just one example. Throughout the Chure and Madhes regions, moringa cultivation, consumption and trade peak between March and April.

Moringa is considered one of the season's most expensive vegetables. According to locals, traders bought moringa directly from the trees at Rs. 200 per kilogram last year. In the market, the price ranged between Rs. 400 and Rs. 500 per kilogram. As the pods mature, prices gradually decrease.

Moringa also holds cultural significance in Madhes. During the Jood Sheetal festival, observed on the second day of the Nepali New Year (Baishek 2), locals traditionally prepare dishes made using drumstick.

Despite its nutritional value, environmental benefits and potential to alleviate poverty, commercial cultivation of moringa remains underdeveloped.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, moringa trees cover about 25,000 hectares in Mahottari district. The region produced around 275 metric tons of drumsticks in the fiscal year 2079/80 (2022/23), valued at Rs. 82.5 million at an average market price of Rs. 300 per kilogram.

Despite local production, Nepal continues to import Indian moringa to meet demand. Nutritionists highlight that moringa is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, playing a crucial role in combating malnutrition and poverty. 

Moringa trees are known to contain 21 essential amino acids necessary for the human body. In addition to the pods, the leaves are equally nutritious and beneficial.

While moringa leaf powder enjoys significant global demand, Nepali farmers have yet to commercialise this opportunity, focusing mainly on pod sales instead.

Madhes Province's Agriculture Directorate has no official records on moringa farming. Crop Protection Officer Sudip Chaudhary said that no programmes or budget allocations for promoting drumstick cultivation were planned for this fiscal year.

“I am unsure what the next fiscal year will hold, but for now, there is no dedicated programme for moringa,” he said.