Nileshwar to become ‘Moringa hub’ after tree declared official town symbol; ₹5 lakh allocated for project

Recognising the medicinal value of moringa (drumstick) and its growing demand in the national and international market, Nileshwar municipality has declared the tree its official symbol and launched an initiative to transform the town into a ‘Moringa hub’.

The civic body will roll out a ‘Three Moringa in Every Yard’ campaign under which three saplings will be distributed free of cost to each household. Vice Chairperson P.M. Sandhya told The Hindu that a nursery would be developed with the support of Kudumbashree to ensure steady supply of quality planting materials.

“The municipality also plans to establish a small-scale industry network centered on value-added moringa products with technical back-up from agricultural research centers at Pilicode and Padannakkad,” she said and added that the aim is to market products ranging from dried leaves and powder to seeds and roots in domestic and global markets,

Ms. Sandhya said global demand for moringa leaves has been rising sharply owing to its reputation as a superfood. Health-conscious consumers are driving demand, particularly for dried leaves and powder. The plant parts, including leaves, seeds, and roots, are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, and minerals.

“Moringa was once commonly grown in household compounds and formed part of the daily diet. We wanted a project that would improve the health of women and children, while also generating income. Moringa emerged as the natural choice,” she said.

She added that besides the strong local demand, there is a significant consumer base in countries such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Canada. The nutraceutical and supplement industries account for the highest demand, followed by food and beverages, and personal care sectors.

An allocation of ₹5 lakh has been earmarked for the project in the 2026-27 annual budget, Ms. Sandhya said. Interestingly, this is not the first such initiative in the district. Last year, the Kasaragod district panchayat became the first in the country to officially designate its own tree, flower, bird, and species.

The district 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. The move was seen as a significant step in strengthening conservation efforts for these species. Municipal authorities expressed hope that the moringa declaration would similarly boost health and conservation efforts while creating new livelihood opportunities.