Recognizing the great potential of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) in the global trade, fifty-five (55) farmers, women, and development workers from Paoay, Currimao, Piddig, Solsona, Badoc, Dingras, and the City of Batac will bolster the moringa industry in the Ilocos.

They were set with the knowledge and skills for malunggay (Moringa oleifera) production through the Malunggay Production Technology shared by Dr. Dionisio S. Bucao, Project Leader of the Malunggay Project in MMSU, during the Pre-Dispersal Training and Ceremonial Distribution of Malunggay Seedlings held today, December 17, at the MMSU Function Hall.

“Malunggay has great export opportunity and we want to open that opportunity to all our kailian in Ilocos Norte. This is our Step 1, and together, we will continue moving towards globalizing this new ‘Green Gold’ of the North”, MMSU President, Dr. Shirley Agrupis, stressed. With the Malunggay project led by Dr. Bucao, MMSU hopes to establish malunggay plantations in said municipalities through research and extension.

Dr. Dionisio Bucao further emphasized that malunggay can be harvested for its leaves, pods, and seeds. “Venturing in moringa production and processing them into various products with agricultural, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications can be an excellent stride towards uplifting the economic lives of the community people and the province as a whole”, he said.

Some 8,000 seedlings of malunggay are now ready for dispersal to the participants of the training, including other community members interested to grow malunggay for leaf and seed production. According to him, MMSU’s malunggay project targets some 40, 000 seedlings for production and distribution interested farmers’ association from the different municipalities in the province to bolster export quality malunggay products.

The training is part of the Phase 1 of the project, Massive Moringa Seedling Production, funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and being monitored by the DA-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1). Seedlings for dispersal to interested municipalities and cities will be gathered from the massive malunggay nursery in the eight-hectare reserve area in Brgy. San Pedro, City of Batac, established January this year.

Moringa is considered a miracle plant or superfood due to its packed nutritive contents beneficial to human and animal health and for pharmaceutical applications. Fresh leaves contain four times the Vitamin A of carrots, seven times the Vitamin C of orange, four times the calcium of milk, three times the potassium of banana, 0.75 of the iron of spinach, and two times the protein of yoghurt. Dried leaves of malunggay contain ten times the Vitamin A of carrots, 0.5 times of the Vitamin C of orange, 17 times the calcium of milk, 15 times the potassium of banana, 25 times the iron of spinach, and nine times the protein of yoghurt.

In the past years, MMSU initiated malunggay processing which led to the development of malunggay ice cream, malunggay-enriched bread and noodles, and others through the efforts of the College of Industrial Technology (CIT). This January 2021, another batch of malunggay-based products were introduced such as moringa pickles, moringa meatballs, moringa cookies, moringa cracklets, and moringa cupcakes.

Meanwhile, City of Batac Mayor, Hon. Albert Chua, affirmed commitment in this moringa program of MMSU. “We hope to develop a productive land by taking to heart the recommend package of technology for malunggay production with the vision of paving a competitive space for our fellow Ilokanoes especially in the global market.

Dr. Larina Zabala, Chief of the DA- Ilocos Norte Research Experiment Center (INREC) also expressed the support and assistance of the Department of Agriculture and RA- RFO 1 in pushing the malunggay industry in the Ilocos.

A total of 40,000 malunggay seedlings will be dispersed by the malunggay project. For its Phase 2, processing and value adding are next steps in bolstering a competitive malunggay industry of the Ilocos in the international market. The Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) of the Department of Agriculture will also be assisting the processing and marketing of malunggay products.

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