MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AGRIBUSINESS AND COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MALUNGAY: THE AMAZING TREE By: Mr. Victorio M. Amante
Malungay (Moringa Oleifera) ) is a known but under appreciated tree growing all over the Philippines. For many Filipinos, it is simply a vegetable, mixed in cooking Mungo or Diningding and nothing more. This could very well change, if the findings of the 6-year 6 study in Nicaragua under PROYECTO BIOMASA funded by the Austrian government, the experience of the Church World Services in Africa, and the work of the University of Leicester in UK are made known locally. USES: Malungay is one of the few trees with no known toxic component except for the small amount of moringinine found in the roots. Practically the whole part of the tree is usable. The roots are a source of a pungent paste that is the equivalent of horseradish and for this reason the malungay tree is sometimes called the horseradish tree. The trunk is used as a live fence and can be a source of pulp.
The leaves as fresh or made into a dry powder can be used as a nutritional supplement for nursing mothers and young children. In Africa, malungay is heavily promoted by the World Church Services against malnutrition. About 100 grams of fresh leaves fed to a child 1 to 3 years old will supply all the daily requirements for calcium, 75% of iron, half his protein needs, and all the essential amino acids. If in dried powdered form, one rounded tablespoon taken 3 times daily will give the child s s daily requirement equivalent to 42% of protein, 125% of calcium, 61% of magnesium, 41% of potassium, 75% of iron, 272% of vitamin A, and 22% of vitamin C. If the pregnant or lactating mother takes two rounded tablespoonful 3 times a day, it will provide her requirement equivalent to 21% of protein, 84% of calcium, 54% % of magnesium, 22% of potassium, 94% of iron, 142% of vitamin A, and 9% of vitamin C. The use of malungay is probably one of the cheapest ways of combating malnutrition, particularly for the urban poor.
Fresh malungay leaves are excellent feed component for animal feeds. It can provide, in addition to protein, the essential amino acids. With malungay constituting 40-50% of feed, milk yields for dairy cows and daily weight gains for beef cattle increased 30%. For non-ruminants like hogs and chicken, it is also a very good source of protein and amino acids but the limiting factor is the amount of fiber allowed in the diet. Malungay extract can be used as plant growth hormone. Malungay shoots can be used as green manure. The leaves increase the generation of biogas in digesters. From the seeds can be extracted an edible oil with a 70% oleic acid, a and can also be used as a carrier of essential oils. Malungay oil was used by the early Egyptians in producing perfumed oil. Similarly, the powder from the meal was used as a natural precipitant to clarify y the murky water of the Nile river for drinking. Phytofloc is the brand of malungay precipitant now sold in the market.
CULTIVATION Malungay can be grown asexually from trunks. Trunks at least 2-inch 2 in diameter can be planted in holes after fertilization with cow dung or chicken manure. It can also be grown from seeds. Growing from trunks can be a problem in areas infested by termites. Once established, however, the tree can survive. When producing the leaves for human or feeds consumption, it can be planted at a density of one million seeds per hectare and harvested every 35 days. At yields of 30 to 80 tons per harvest depending on the fertilization and irrigation, and harvesting 9 times a year, it is one plant that produces one of the highest biomass. It is also planted only once and fertilized, irrigated, and harvested year round.
When planted to produce seeds for oil and meal extraction, it should be planted at a density of 6m x 4m, or approximately 400 hundred trees per hectare. The tree will produce from 15,000 to 25,000 seeds per year at 300 mg per seed or as high as 3 tons per hectare per year. Oil content is approximately 35% of the seeds or a yield of approx. 1000 liter per hectare per year. Industrial price of malungay oil is $3.00 to $5.00 per liter. However, the highest price can be attained when n used for aromatheraphy together with locally produced essential oils like ylang-ylang. ylang. Given the many uses and easy cultivation, the Malungay tree should be one of the trees the Filipinos should cultivate industrially.
RUMINANT NON-RUMINANT GROWTH ENHANCER PRECIPITANT BIOGAS MEAL FERTILIZER LUBRICANT ANIMAL FEEDS NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT LEAVES ROOTS USES PODS SEEDS OIL FRESH / CANNED DRUMSTICKS FOOD ESSENTIAL OIL CARRIER POSTS HORSE RADISH MALUNGAY (MORINGA OLEIFERA) TRUNKS 10 CM X 10 CM TERMITES DENSITY CATERPILLARS PESTS CULTIVATION FERTIZATION SEEDS COW DUNG YIELDS PER HA./YR. CHEM. FERTILIZER 15, 000 to 25, 000 / YR. OIL 35% SEEDS BIOMASS 30 TO 80 TONS / HA @ 9 X YR. LEAVES 40% DM 23% PROTEIN 17%
CONSTRAINTS TO COMMERCIALIZATION Products from the Malunggay Tree may be considered as new and therefore subject to the following constraints: FINANCIAL- The business could require significant financial investment that initially has no guarantee of a market. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Most of the current research is still scientific in nature and few practical ones. For example, the proper tree management such as the timing and height of pruning the tree, the right equipment for extracting the oil from the seeds, etc. MARKET AWARENESS There is a need of extensive knowledge of the market for the various products- fresh and dried leaves as nutritional supplement or animal feed component, oil for food or for cosmetic use, meal as natural precipitant, etc. REGULATORY APPROVAL Almost all countries have regulatory authorities in place to ensure the quality and safety of products being offered for sale.
RECOMMENDATIONS Set up first your own plantation to produce the seeds. The seeds are usually available during the summer months or one can use trunks. After a year s time, there should be enough seeds to enlarge the plantation. When the seeds are available, plant for intensive production following either the practices developed in Nicaragua or the one done at AVRDC in Taiwan. Pending a large market for dried leaves, concentrate more in selling it as livestock feed component. It is a good economic source of protein and essential amino acids. It can be combined with sweet potato or taro (as energy source), and with coconut meal (as source of fats). An Animal Nutritionist should be able to easily formulate the feeds that can be economically competitive against corn and soya-based feeds for ruminants and non-ruminants. Use or sell the powdered dried leaves as nutritional supplement for the poor malnourished children. This will probably to be in cooperation with the government or NGOs. Eventually convince the instant noodle manufacturers to use it as an ingredient. This can result in a large enough demand to make the production of dried, powdered malungay leaves an economic venture.