Scientist Quits Job for Organic Farming with Moringa Leaves and Launches Profitable Venture

In Somankottai village of Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district, Dr Kandasami Saravanan has created a lush green haven of moringa oleifera on four acres of land.

Departing from conventional practices of waiting for the trees to bear drumsticks, Dr Saravanan opts to quickly harvest its leaves.

For decades, his family had been cultivating moringa for harvesting drumsticks.

However, the crop was becoming increasingly unprofitable and unsustainable owing to low market rates.

“For drumsticks, farmers earn between Rs 100 and Rs 150 per kg. But during peak production, the price reduces to as low as Rs 5 per kg. I observed moringa farming was becoming unprofitable for farmers despite its nutritional benefits,” he shares.

(Returning to his roots in Tamil Nadu, Dr Saravanan chose to revive his family’s farming legacy by focusing on cultivating moringa)

“I learnt that the excessive supply of drumsticks resulted in low market rates, whereas its leaves were in much higher demand in the international market. So, I decided to switch to moringa leaves farming,” he adds.

With just moringa leaves,

Dr Saravanan has set up a profitable venture by processing them into value-added products such as moringa podi, leaf soup, and powder. Selling at over Rs 800 per kg, the former soil scientist has successfully tapped into an international market base in the USA, Canada, Europe, and several Gulf countries.

From research to roots: The start of a venture Dr Saravanan has over two decades of experience in soil science and agricultural chemistry.

This, coupled with his deep-rooted connection to nature and his family’s farming background, allows him to maintain a thriving business model that resonates with environmental conservation and economic empowerment.

In 2017, he took the bold step of resigning from his prestigious position at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, where he had worked as a soil scientist for about seven years.

The decision was not an easy one. Dr Saravanan’s father initially opposed his choice, but his unwavering determination and vision for change kept driving him forward.

By shade-drying moringa leaves, he transforms them into a wide range of value-added products, such as powder, capsules, and soups.

(Dr Saravanan processes leaves into value-added products such as moringa podi and leaf soup.)

With this, he earns a net profit of up to Rs 40,000 every month. “By investing Rs 1 lakh per acre, farmers can fetch up to Rs 1.25 lakh annually just by selling their leaves. If they venture into value addition, they can earn up to Rs 2.5 lakh to double the profits,” he says.

“I am very happy now and at peace within myself. Initially, I faced a lot of struggles as I had to invest almost Rs 1 crore in cultivating the farm. But now I am getting the fruits of my struggles. I went against my family when I quit my job at the university,” he says, adding,

“But when you really do what you love, you feel rewarded at the end.”

Edited by Arunava Banerjee. All photos: Dr Kandasami Saravanan.

Ref: Scientist Quits Job for Organic Farming with Moringa Leaves and Launches Profitable Venture (thebetterindia) Photo Credit-Dr Kandasami Saravanan