THE UNIVERSITY and the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Ilocos Sur signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last Aug. 6 to undertake the technology adaption and promotion of the yard-long variety of moringa (marunggay) in Region I.

President Miriam E. Pascua and Schools Division Superintendent Marino S. Baytec, agreed to produce seeds of this variety to be given free to selected elementary and secondary schools in Region 1, and to assist small-scale farmers, primary and secondary school teachers, and other enthusiasts in the production of marunggay seeds and seedlings.

Part of the tie-up is the establishment of seed production areas and a nursery in Ilocos Sur to serve as models for those who may want to put up their own plantation. The two parties agreed further to require every student of selected primary and secondary schools in Ilocos Sur to plant and take care of at least three marunggay trees in their home yards and to promote the slogan “Nutritious plant for everyone: Live longer and healthier on moringa.”

Dr. Heraldo L. Layaoen, vice president for planning, development, and external linkages, who is also the project leader, said the undertaking aims to introduce the new variety of moringa from India which has longer fruits and better eating quality than the native variety.

“This is one way by which we can promote marunggay as a nutritious plant for everyone, and expand the existing plantation in Batac, Ilocos Norte to augment the supply of fresh marunggay leaves in the region and the needs of  companies which process marunggay powder for various food products,” he added. The project has a P1-M budget allocation from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

For its part, the MMSU shall provide technical assistance to ensure the genetic purity of the seeds which will be produced from the production areas, and evaluate the seed production activities in the pilot schools.

Seeds from India

The yard-long marunggay was brought into the country in December 2005 by Beatriz Dar, wife of Dr. William D. Dar, executive director of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in Andra-Pradesh, India.

Mrs. Dar collected the seeds from an old village in ICRISAT and planted in Batac, Ilocos Norte on Dec. 28, 2005. She gave additional 20 seeds in January 2006, 10 of which were planted in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and the other 10 in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, the hometown of Dr. Dar.

One of the plants which survived in Batac, Ilocos Norte was identified and selected for its exceptionally long fruits which are almost 100 cm long. Two more plants were identified and selected for their big and long fruits, and another two for their heavy fruiting – even if they were only about 70 cm long.

Leaves of this new variety are finer than the local marunggay and are more palatable according to those who have tasted them.

“The pods are more fleshy than the local variety,” said Dr. Layaoen as he showed samples of the fruits during the signing of the MOA at the MMSU Conference Hall.

Tests showed that the selections are three times leafier and bear fruit all year round while the local variety bears fruit only during the dry months. Thus, these attributes make the yard-long marunggay a better vegetable than the local variety.

Dr. Layaoen recalled that there was no intention to multiply these plants but when people saw them and started to ask for planting materials, seeds were not enough.

“At one time, some visitors from UPLB cut a branch. I was not informed anymore, though, if it survived or not,” Dr. Layaoen said, adding that his experience in Batac, Ilocos Norte proved  that plants from cuttings do not last long. According to him, the roots tend to rot and eventually die at three months after  planting. On the other hand, plant propagated from seeds bear fruit at six months after planting.

“Thus, there is a need to produce seeds and seedlings to be distributed in strategic locations of the country through the Technology Commercialization Unit (TCU) of DA-BAR so that we can share the benefits derived from these improved marunggay,” Dr. Layaoen said.

Establishment of a seed production farm

At present, there is inadequate seedlings for a one-hectare marunggay plantation which will serve as initial seed production area. After one year, the area will be increased to five hectares.

Selected members of the Bungon Seed Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BSPMC) will be tapped to produce all the seed requirements and seedlings for Ilocos Norte. The distribution of seeds will be, however, managed by the TCU of DA-BAR through the DA Regional Field Units or the provincial agriculturists or schools superintendents in the concerned province/city.The management farm will be the responsibility of the DepEd with the assistance of an agronomist/horticulturist, an entomologist/pathologist, and two staff.

Seed production farms must be well fenced. MMSU experience with the current mother plants showed that the long pods (fruits) attract the interest of passersby which resulted in their premature harvest.

All the pods are allowed to mature and dry in the branches. Only fully dried pods are harvested in the afternoon and are hand-threshed immediately. The seeds are placed in net-bags and dried further under intense sunlight for one day then placed in jars with wood ash on top of the seeds. The seeds are repacked in plastic pending requests for shipment by those who need them.

Seeding production of mother plants will be done in a 10m x 20m screen house which will be constructed upon the release of funds. Seedlings will be distributed to the seed producers of BSPMC. Seedlings for the five-hectare plantation in Brgy.Bungon will be the priority.  After the five-hectare area is planted, seedlings will be distributed to selected primary and secondary schools in Ilocos Norte. Seedlings for the other provinces will be produced in selected pilot primary and secondary schools who offer agriculture/gardening subjects in their curriculum.

Other uses of marunggay

Marunggay is not only used as food but also as medicine. The mature seeds are swallowed in the belief that it cures arthritis. In the Ilocos, the leaf juice is used to stop bleeding of cuts in humans and animals. It is also used to cure contusions and bruises. Now, marunggay is promoted as a crop for health and wellness.

According to Hartwell (1971), the flowers, leaves, and roots are used in folk remedies for tumors; the seed for abdominal tumors. The root decoction is used in Nicaragua for dropsy. Root juice is applied externally as rubefacient or counter-irritant. Leaves are applied as poultice to sores, rubbed on the temples for headaches, and said to have purgative properties. Bark, leaves, and roots are acrid and pungent, and are taken to improve digestion. Oil is somewhat dangerous if taken internally, but is applied externally for skin diseases. Bark is regarded as antiscorbic and exudes a reddish gum with properties called tragacanth, an compound used against diarrhea. Roots are bitter and act as tonic to the body and lungs.

Nutritional contents

Per 100 grams, the pod is reported to contain 86.9 g water, 2.5 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 8.5 g total carbohydrate, 4.8 g fiber, 2.0 g ash, 30 mg calcium, 110 mg potassium, 5.3 mg iron, 184 IU Vitamin A, 0.2 mg niacin, and 120 mg ascorbic acid.

The same volume of the leaves contain 7.5 g water, 6.7 g protein, 1.7 g fat, 14.3 g total carbohydrate, 0.9 g fiber, 2.3 g ash, 440 mg calcium, 70 mg potassium, 7 mg iron; 11,300 IU Vitamin  A, 120 mg Vitamin B, 0.8 mg nicotinic acid, 220 mg ascorbic acid, and 7.4 mg tocopherol. Estrogenic substances, including the anti-tumor compound, b-sitosterol and a pectinesterase, are also known present.