In the age of commercial farming, moringa (sajna) is showing new promise. In terms of both health and money, it can be a profitable crop, and following many countries, some in Bangladesh have begun growing moringa leaves commercially.

Moringa trees once grew uncared for at farm homesteads. They had some value in season but none for the rest of the year. Now the many qualities of moringa leaves are discussed worldwide; in nutrition, they are said to be far ahead of milk, oranges, carrots and bananas.

Planned moringa cultivation has begun in many parts of the country. Understanding its value, farmer Abdul Kader of Chuadanga Sadar has planted hundreds of moringa trees on unused land. Local upazila agriculture officer Talha Zubair Masrur has taken note, and development worker Rajib Parvez said development organisations have also begun work on moringa leaves.

Those involved say farmers and entrepreneurs could soon take up moringa cultivation and diverse processing.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.