Couple leaves city life for organic moringa farming; clocks turnover of Rs10 lakh per acre

While working for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Delhi, Jitendar Mann realised the adverse effects of pollution and chemical-laden food on his health. He discussed moving back to his village with his wife, Sarla Mann, who agreed that a natural way of life would be good for them.

In 2017, Jitendar, an engineer, resigned from TCS and the couple moved to Mehmudpur village in Haryana’s Sonipat district. There, Jitendar’s family owned two acres of ancestral land, where the couple decided to cultivate moringa – the fast-growing, drought-resistant tree whose leaves are rich in antioxidants, nutrients and medicinal properties. 

Moringa leaves and powder are a superfood because of their health benefits. Drumsticks are the long, slender pods of the moringa tree used famously in sambhar and curries. 

Also Read: Scientist turns moringa farmer; exports products to the US, Europe

“My husband had got some moringa plants from his friend’s house in Bengaluru. He planted them on our terrace garden in Delhi and they grew well. We found their leaves very effective in health-boosting properties,” says Sarla.

The couple took the seeds of those plants to Haryana and decided to prepare land for moringa cultivation. “We had to make the land suitable for organic farming by ensuring there were no traces of chemicals,” says Jitendra. 

Today, Sarla and Jitendra grow moringa over 10 acres in Mehmudpur and turn the leaves into powder and capsules, sold under the Husband Wife Farm brand. The buyers are from India and overseas including the UK, Canada and the UAE.

The global market for moringa was valued at 9.5 billion dollars in 2022, as per Zion Market Research. India dominates the market and meets more than 80 percent of the global demand as the climatic conditions here favour its growth.

Preparing the land for organic farming

Due to years of chemical usage, the land had become devoid of fertility. The couple added cow dung to the soil and decided to initially grow moringa only for mulching purposes to ensure the crop was not contaminated with any chemicals.

“For 1.5 years, we kept mulching the plants – putting moringa plants back in the soil to improve fertility, and carbon content and enrich it with organic matter. We harvested the leaves for the first time in 2018-end,” Sarla says.

Jitendar and Sarla also built a water tank of 3.5 lakh litre capacity to ensure that plants get solarized water. 

“The underground water is devoid of life and using it directly is far less beneficial than sun-charged water. Leaving water in the open tank brings life and it becomes naturally beneficial for the plants. We have three pumps that keep churning the water. This solarized water strengthens the soil ecosystem,” explains Jitendra.

Also Read: Seven tips for switching to organic farming

The couple has installed a waste decomposer for fast composting of organic farm waste. It improves soil health, and yields and builds plant immunity. “We prepare jeevamrit, panchagavya and other organic inputs on the farm and use them regularly for the plants,” he adds.

Jeevamrit is a mixture of fresh cow dung and cow urine from indigenous Indian cow breeds, jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil. They also use mulching that covers the soil's top layer, helps retain moisture and nurtures microorganism growth.

The couple practices no-till farming, resulting in a natural ecosystem with humus-rich soil. They harvest 10,000 kg of moringa leaves per acre annually. 

“The harvesting is done about four times a year, resulting in 10,000 kg annual output,” says Sarla. 

Also Read: Homemaker grows cordyceps mushroom in 200 sq ft room; earns Rs30 lakh annually

Processing moringa leaves into powder

After harvesting, leaves are washed twice and then dried in the shade before being turned into moringa powder. “Initially, we rented a room with electricity backup and turned it into an airtight structure to ensure quick drying of moringa leaves. We had put up four fans and heaters for temperature control,” Sarla says.

“We analyzed the nutrition levels in our powder using various methods and arrived at the best process that retained the maximum nutrients,” she says. The couple shared the powder with the villagers and local students. The improvement in health and stamina was visible. 

The couple then began marketing the product locally. 

“Once we participated in the Gurgaon Organic Farmers’ Market. A week later, our buyers returned for more and were looking for us as ‘husband-wife who sold moringa powder’. That led us to brand the business as Husband Wife Farm,” Sarla laughs.

The couple employs 12 local women to help in the operations. They harvest and wash the leaves and help in packaging the product. “For drying, we have invested Rs 19 lakh in a set-up with machines that can work even during the rainy season. We have a solar power unit of 10 kilowatts, a transformer and an inverter to ensure 24/7 electricity supply,” the woman farmer says.

Also Read: How farmers can earn more with organic farming

Sarla explains that about 10,000 kg of leaves result in 1,000 kg of dry leaves from an acre. “The turnover per acre is Rs10 lakh,” she says. 

They sell moringa powder, moringa capsules and beetroot powder through their website, local stores and direct bulk sales. In winter, they intercrop beetroot with moringa trees and make beetroot powder. 

The duo is now roping in other farmers to grow moringa organically. “Of the ten acres under cultivation, six acres is on lease. We pay higher than market rates for the land. We are also training other farmers to convert their land into moringa farms. We can buy their produce and help them with the biggest pain point for farmers – marketing,” Sarla says.

Right now, the demand for their products is far more than supply. Soon, the couple plans to expand the area under moringa farming to 100 acres and meet the rising demand.

(Rashmi Pratap is a Mumbai-based journalist specialising in business, financial, and socio-economic reporting)

Also Read: Karnataka’s professor-turned-farmer earns Rs6 lakh per acre through organic farming of dates

Look up our YouTube Channel