soup mix or rasam mix Moringa Is there powder of drumstick leaves in it? or a payasam that has Moringa Meat as one of the ingredients?
These are value added products Moringa That’s what entrepreneur Ambika Somasundaran makes at her unit, Kariyath Dry Foods, in Marotichal in Puthur panchayat in Thrissur district. Now he’s excited that some of these products have gone international.
“A trial batch of six products was recently dispatched to UAE, three of which are Moringa Products – Rice Powder, Leaf Powder and Soup Mix. Moringa millet mix and Moringa Capsules are included in the next batch,” says Ambika, who sells the product under the brand name, Dry Mix.
Curry Dry Foods began operations in 2017 by manufacturing curry powder and flour used to prepare breakfast dishes. Ambika to be launched in 2021 Moringa-based products. “Exports have been my aim ever since I started my company and so it is a dream come true,” says the 53-year-old.
chasing her dream
Ambika became an entrepreneur after resigning from ESAF Small Finance Bank, where she worked for 17 years. “As I wanted to do something on my own, I focused on value-added products from local produce. I wanted to ensure livelihood for needy women in my neighbourhood,” she recalls.
Thus Karyot was born. When she was planning to do something different from other players in the field, Ambika got an order for Moringa Leaf powder. “Unfortunately, I did not have the required quantity of leaves then. Still, it got me thinking Moringa products and I started Moringa Farming in our panchayat,” she says.
Entrepreneur Ambika Somasundaran manufactures and exports value-added products made from drumsticks Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ambika pitched the idea to Revenue Minister K. Rajan when he came to buy flour from her unit. he encouraged her to start Moringa He does farming in his constituency Olur. In collaboration with Ollur Krishi Samridhi (OKS), a farmers’ producer organisation, 10,000 saplings procured from the Kerala Agricultural University were distributed to Nadathara, Puthur, Panachery and Madakkathara panchayats in the constituency. KAU officials trained the Kudumbashree workers of these panchayats. “In the meantime, I started collecting Moringa She drops it off with people in the neighbourhood, paying ₹30 per kg,” she says.
Ambika set up a processing unit in her 1,000 sq ft ancestral house, while the mill occupies 250 sq ft.
Ambika explains that the leaves are cleaned in turmeric water before being put in the dryer. The dried leaves are packed in air-tight containers and powdered if required.
The leaf powder is used in curries or it is consumed mixed with water or buttermilk. Its powder is made by mixing it with rice flour. Moringa to make rice flour Puttu Or Idiyappam or added Idli / Dosa dough. “We have a nutritious millet mix with six millets. The leaf powder is added to the Nutrimillet mix along with six millets to make Moringa millet mix that can be either a replacement for oats or mixed in Dosa Or Idli Flour,” she suggests.
Another product, chutney powder contains leaf powder, dried mango and Kanthari Mulku (bird’s eye chili) powder. “We buy Kanthari From the houses in my neighborhood who grow it.” Leaf powder is also a component of Rasam mix; Payasam the mixture is prepared from Moringa meat and manicholam (Fodder).
“A recent addition is Moringa Churnam Which gives relief from sore throat and acidity. The leaf powder is also available in capsule form. The machines were bought from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of the central government.
Entrepreneur Ambika Somasundaran manufactures and exports value-added products made from drumsticks Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Its clientele is spread across India, in cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru. “A team from NGO, Care India visited my unit some time ago to know more about Moringa product because they wanted to implement it in Odisha where leaves are getting wasted.
Even though he had earlier received an order from the US, he declined it due to the expenses involved and the pandemic. “Now OKS is supporting exports. We are expecting to ship 14 products. We also want to explore markets in the Middle East and other parts of the world,” she says.
Value Added Products from Drumsticks | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ambika cites the example of Madurai-based entrepreneurs Sujatha K and her husband R Saravanakumaran, whose company makes over 60 products. Moringabased products (see box). “We lag behind other states when it comes to commercial farming Moringa, But interest is slowly growing. Recently, 1,000 Moringa saplings were planted in the Central Jail, Viyur, under the initiative of Vilavattam Krishi Bhavan. I am currently ordering leaves from Mannarkkad [in Palakkad district] and some farmers in Thrissur. More farmers from Thrissur and Palakkad districts have approached me for supply of leaves. We are opening collection centers for leaves in four panchayats to ensure regular supply. It is a huge achievement for me as I never expected to go this far,” she says.
drumstick all the way
K Sujatha, a commerce graduate, runs Miracle Tree Life Science with her husband, R Saravanakumaran, an engineer, in Madurai. they farm Moringa Plant in 183 acres in and around Madurai. “In 2007, we bought some land and started organic farming. Later we decided to focus on a single crop and after trying several options we focused on Moringa. Initially we grew the plant only for the leaves. But when we realized the possibilities of creating a value-added product, we shifted our focus,” says Saravanakumaran.
The company has more than 60 moringa-based products that have moringa as an ingredient and they come in different categories like food and nutrition, personal care, hair care and so on. “You can make a lot of products from the leaves and seeds. For example, you can make oil from drumstick seeds and this oil is used to make soap. Its bark is used to make body scrubs and root in beauty products. While leaf powder is our best seller, our flagship product is energy bars. We also do personal branding for clients.”
Meanwhile, Ambika has been selected for the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approach for Rejuvenation of Agriculture and Allied Sectors (RKVY-Raftar), a Government of India scheme to promote and assist agri-startups. “Diversification is important in this sector and hence I am looking at working with other local products. Bird’s eye chili has great potential, so does papaya. So, I will keep experimenting.” Contact: 9539731501