DIPANKAR ROY, Khulna

Moringa cultivation is transforming livelihoods of farmers in saline-prone coastal regions of the southwest, emerging as a low-cost, climate-resilient crop.

In Khulna’s Batiaghata upazila, many farmers who once depended on small businesses or traditional farming are now turning to moringa.

Krishna, a resident of Khulsi Bunia village, shifted from running a grocery shop to farming and shrimp cultivation. Over the years, he planted around 50 moringa trees along the edges of his shrimp enclosure.

“Before, we planted moringa trees for family consumption,” he said. “But over the last decade, I have increased the number of trees. Moringa has compensated for much of the loss I faced.”

Farmers highlight the crop’s minimal maintenance requirements as a key advantage. Moringa trees require no pesticides or fertilisers, and branches can be replanted to grow new trees within a few years.

Krishna earned around Tk 80,000 to Tk 85,000 from his harvest this season and expects additional income from remaining produce. His neighbour Chinmoy Chakraborty reported earnings of over Tk 50,000, while others have also seen notable returns.

Officials say moringa cultivation has now spread widely across all 28 upazilas of southern districts.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), more than 15,000 farmers in Batiaghata alone are now engaged in moringa cultivation. Across Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail districts, the crop has expanded significantly in recent years. Cultivation rose from 338 hectares in 2020-21 to 602 hectares in 2024-25, with production reaching a record 8,227 tonnes.

Agriculture officials attribute this growth to moringa’s suitability for saline soil and its nutritional value. Md Rafiqul Islam, additional director of DAE in Khulna said, “We have conducted surveys and found that more than 90 percent of farming families in this region have moringa trees.”

“In a region increasingly affected by salinity, climate change and shrinking agricultural opportunities, moringa is emerging as a resilient crop that is helping thousands of rural families improve their livelihoods,” he added.