‘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 north-western 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, β-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics. The moringa plant provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, β- 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.