‘Drumstick tree’ (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is multipurpose potential crop in rural area of India

Abstract

Moringa oleifera Lam., a medium sized tree species has gained importance due to its multipurpose usage and well adaptability to dry and hot climates of northwestern plains, central India and dry regions of peninsular India. Moringa oleifera Lam. (family: Moringaceae) is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value. Different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins, -carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. The moringa plant provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, -sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and high nutritional value, M. oleifera is very important for its medicinal value and it is also used in Dairy and meat production in dry regions is very complex due to low quality and shortage of fodder, especially in dry periods. In case of fodder shortage. i.e. unavailability of fodder in December through May as currently green fodder is least available after wheat, alfalfa, brassica and maize harvesting. This leads towards reduced livestock production and low-quality milk and meat products. and enlarging the gap between the availability of resources and the meeting of human and animals necessities. People are fulfilling their requirements for food and shelter by depleting natural resources. Moringa oleifera is one of those plants that has been neglected for several years but now is being investigated for its fast growth, higher nutritional attributes, and utilization as a livestock fodder crop. It can be grown as a crop on marginal lands with high temperatures and low water availability, where it is difficult to cultivate other agricultural crops.

Impact through frontline demonstrations on yield, yield gap and economics of drumstick farming in arid Kachchh of Gujarat

“…Due to wider adaptability and resistance to drought, it can be cultivated on variety of soils and climatic conditions without much care. 3 It can tolerate a wide range of annual rainfall (250 mm-3000 mm) and pH (5.0-9.0). 22 It provides pods, flowers and leaves for vegetables and has various nutraceutical a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, CAZRI, Kukma, Bhuj, Kachchh 370105 (Gujarat), India *Corresponding author: M Kanwat, E-mail: kanwatmanish@gmail.com…”

Changes in Haematological Parameters Following Toxicity Study with 80% Methanol Extract of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> in Wistar Rats

“…It is referred to as "drum stick tree" or the "horse riding tree." Its consumption both in the raw and as processed preparations has increased a great deal, hence making the plant a highly valued and cultivated one in the tropics and sub-tropics like Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, tropical America, Sri Lanka and the Phillipine Islands [1]. The plant is a slender, fast-growing, drought-resistant and perennial tree belonging to the Moringaceae family, the order Brassicales, and the genus Moringa which contains 13 species ranging in height from 5 to 12 m. It has an open crown of drooping, feathery foliage, tri-pinnate leaf, trunk, and flowers with distinctive green patches at the tips of the petals and sepals [2].…”