SOCIECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES OF Moringa oleifera LAM. PRODUCERS IN MEXICO

Abstract

Objective: To learn socioeconomic and agronomic practices of Mexican Moringa oleifera Lam. producers.

Design/methodology/approach: Producers from six Mexican states (were located and interviewed.

Results: Producer´s Average age is 41-year-old and 75% of them are male. 100% of them have a bachelor degree and 47% have postgraduate studies. Average surface for Moringa cultivation is 12.3 hectares. All plantations were stablished after 2005, 77% were sown with seeds from Mexican plantations, while 23% were imported from India. The main reasons to cultivate moringa were health and family nutrition, followed by their forage potential. All plantations were associated with other cultivars, such as corn, beans, and tropical or forest species. All producers consume their Moringa, 83% sell it for human consumption, while 20% sell or use it for livestock feeding. All producers sell leaves and only 27% sell seeds. 97% of producers practice agroecological farming.

Limitations on study/implications: Producers were reluctant to provide income information due to safety reasons; however, results indicate that moringa represents a good source of alimentary and productive diversification for Mexican producers.

Findings/conclusions: Cultivation of moringa in Mexico is a recent activity, which has a low environmental impact and producers are mainly highly educated persons.