Lok Sabha Question No. 3257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Moringa-based Product Industry
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3257

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  MARCH, 2026

## MORINGA-BASED PRODUCT INDUSTRY

## 3257.   MS. S JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

(a) the estimated market value of India's moringa-based product industry and the growth rate recorded during the past five years;

(b) the specific initiatives undertaken by the Government to promote the export of valueadded moringa products, including key export destinations and export volumes over the same period;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the significant business potential of moringa-based products in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, which industry estimates value at 5,000 crore to 6,000 crore annually, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  support  value  addition,  processing infrastructure and market linkages for moringa growers and entrepreneurs in Karur, including financial  and  technical  assistance  extended  under  schemes  such  as  the  Pradhan  Mantri Formalisation  of  Micro  Food  Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY)?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) As  moringa  products  are  exported  under  broader  Harmonized  System  (HS)  codes classifications  covering  botanicals,  herbal  extracts  and  nutraceutical  ingredients  therefore disaggregated export data specifically for moringa-based products is limited. However, industry estimates indicate that exports of moringa-based products from India have shown steady growth over  the  past  five  years,  in  line  with  the  increasing  global  demand  for  natural  health supplements.  Based  on  industry  assessments  and  trade  estimates,  the  domestic  and  exportoriented moringa products market in India is estimated to be in the range of approximately USD 400-500 million and has witnessed an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 8-10% over the past five years, driven by rising global demand for plant-based nutrition, natural supplements, and functional foods. The growth of the sector has also been supported by increasing  international  consumer  interest  in  natural  health  products  and  plant-derived nutritional ingredients.

(b) The Government of India has undertaken several measures to promote the export of value-added plant-based and nutraceutical products, including moringa-based products. Some of the key initiatives include:

i.Export Promotion through Export Promotion Councils (EPCs)

ii.The Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL) under the Department of  Commerce  promotes  exports  of  herbal  extracts,  botanicals,  and  plant-based  ingredients, including moringa derivatives.

- iii.Exporters are supported through participation in international trade fairs, buyer-seller  meets, and  global  nutraceutical  exhibitions,  which  help  promote  Indian  botanical  ingredients  and value-added plant products.
- iv. Quality  and  Certification  Support :  Exporters  are  encouraged  to  adopt  international  quality standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), organic certification and other regulatory compliances to facilitate market access.
- v. Focus  on  Value  Addition: Government  initiatives  encourage  processing,  extraction  and nutraceutical formulation, enabling exporters to move from raw agricultural produce to highvalue nutraceutical and wellness products.

Further, exports largely comprise moringa leaf powder, extracts, capsules, teas and nutraceutical  ingredients  with  key  export  destinations  for  moringa-based  products  include United States, European Union countries, United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada,etc.

(c) According to inputs received from industry stakeholders and trade sources, the moringabased product industry in and around Karur district in Tamil Nadu has significant business potential and has emerged as an important centre for the cultivation, processing and export of moringa (Moringa oleifera) and moringa-based products. The region has developed a strong ecosystem  involving  farmers,  processing  units,  nutraceutical  ingredient  manufacturers  and exporters, engaged in the production of value-added products such as moringa leaf powder, extracts, dietary supplements, herbal teas and other plant-based formulations. However, as of now, the Government does not maintain consolidated official data at the district level.

(d) MoFPI implements Central Sector umbrella scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017-18 across the country. The components scheme under PMKSY are (i) Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure (ii) Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing  and  Preservation  Capacities  (CEFPPC  scheme),  (iii)  Operation  Greens  (OG scheme), (iv) Creation of Infrastructure for Agro Processing Clusters (APC scheme), (v) Mega Food Parks (MFP scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021) and (vi) Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages (CBFL scheme- discontinued w.e.f. 01.04.2021).

Under these component schemes, MoFPI provides financial support in the form of grants-inaid/ subsidy for setting up of food processing projects thereby creating both processing and preservation infrastructure facilities including cold chain infrastructure. The facilities created under the  component schemes help in preservation & processing of  raw farm produce  and efficient transport of raw & finished processed food products. The schemes are demand driven and  proposals  are  invited  by  floating  Expression  of  Interest  from  time  to  time  based  on availability  of  funds.  Under  the  schemes,  funds  are  not  allocated  state-wise/  sector  -wise. Further, these scheme allows participation not only by government agencies, but also by private firms,  companies, cooperatives, FPOs, individuals etc. in setting up cold-chain/ processing/ storage units etc. provided they meet eligibility conditions. As on 31 st December, 2025, out of 155 approved projects 113 have been completed with approved grant of Rs. 293.59 crore and released grant of Rs.287.76/- crore creating processing and preservation capacity of 11.95 Lakh Metric Tonne LMT per annum in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Furthermore,  to  provide  comprehensive  support  for  establishing  or  upgrading  micro  food processing  enterprises  assistance  is  provided  through  PMFME  scheme  across  the  country including the Karur district of Tamil Nadu. As of 31st December 2025, there are 49048 net enterprises in Tamil Nadu State with approved subsidy of Rs. 538.50 crores.