Turning Moringa into Green Gold
This is how the journey of Pangasinan State University and the Moringaling Philippines Foundation Inc. started with a mission to turn idle lands in Pangasinan into plantations of Organic Moringa and help our government malnutrition and poverty in rural communities through the Massive Moringa Seedling Production and Distribution of the Department of Agriculture under Bayanihan II and Plant Plant Plant Program. The milestones we are going to present are the product of hardwork and commitment of the men and women of PSU, MPFI, our organic farmer organizations, and the Department of Agriculture.
After some series of consultative meetings, the Moringaling Philippines Foundation Inc, became the industry partner of PSU in July 2020 through the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the two institutions represented by Dr. Paulo V. Cenas the PSU VP for Research, Extension, and Innovation and Mr. Pablito “Pabs” Villegas the MPFI Vice President. This partnership was further strengthened with the signing of a memorandum of agreement by the PSU President Dr. Dexter R. Buted and the and Mr. Pablito “Pabs” Villegas representing the foundation’s president Mrs. Genara Matsuoka in August 17, 2020. The partnership will include collaborative research, extension, and production activities.
One of the milestones of this partnership is the granting of Php4,000,000.00 from DA through the endorsement by MPFI to establish 9 hectares of Organic Moringa plantations in Pangasinan with the farmer organizations as the primary beneficiaries. The farmers organization of organic farming are duly registered as D.A. beneficiaries. In this project, PSU provided various supplies, seedlings, and nurseries. The two varieties were planted, the PKM1 for seed oil production and the native Moringa for leaf production.
In 2020, the Pangasinan State University included Moringa as one of its commodity focus and priority programs. Since then, PSU has approved various Moringa research projects and studies in PSU Sta. Maria, Infanta, San Carlos, Bayambang, Alaminos, Binmaley and Asingan.
In 2021, the Moringa Germplasm Collection and Conservation Center was established at PSU Sta. Maria Campus. A total of 7 Moringa oleifera accessions acquired from the members of MPFI in different regions were germinated, and transplanted to the field for characterization and evaluation of leaf production. Promising accessions will be propagated once they produce seeds. Variability of Moringa accessions in terms of horticultural traits was assessed. The next phase of the project will be analysis of the nutrient content of the different Moringa lines or ecotypes being evaluated.
Moringa production sites were successfully established by the Malimpin P4MP Inc in Dasol, the Nagkakaisang Organikong Magsasaka ng Bacundao Inc. in Malasiqui; the Natividad United Farmers Association in Natividad; the San Fabian Organic Farmers and Fisherfolks Association in San Fabian, Pangasinan and Timpuyog Ti San Manuel Upland Farmers Association in San Manuel, Pangasinan and in PSU Sta. Maria Campus. These farms will also serve as seed banks for future propagation of PKM1 and native ecotypes. The Malimpin P4MP farm in Dasol, Pangasinan is currently undergoing certification process by the Control Union. The Dasol farm will establish a 15-ha Moringa plantation in their 70-ha land.
From 2020 to 2022, more than 100 farmers, faculty, and staff of PSU were trained on Organic Moringa production. PSU, MPFI, and DA RFO1 also conducted several trainings on management of organic moringa farms, seedling care and management, financial management, marketing and value-adding.
The next phase of the project will provide processing equipment and facilities to farmer-beneficiaries. This will help the groups in pre-processing of raw materials to Moringa processing. It will also provide equipment to produce products from Moringa such powder and oil, and pelletized feeds for animals.
PSU in collaboration with its industry partner, MPFI will continue to cater the needs of the farmer-beneficiaries by providing innovation support to farmers to increase farm productivity and enhance their resiliency to climate change, establishing the Moringa Innovation and Processing Center, engage in projects that will address malnutrition in the province through the development of Moringa fortified food. The ultimate goal of the PSU Program is to contribute in economic activities in eastern and western part of Pangasinan where poverty is prevalent and livelihood opportunities are very limited.
