Radhaben Rojasara’s journey towards Moringa Cultivation
Under the project ‘Increasing Income and Improving Risk Resilience of Farmers in Amreli’, Radhaben was trained to establish a Moringa Processing Unit. Before this transformation, Radha cultivated only groundnuts across her family’s 7 bighas of land. Although she is practising sustainable farming, she lacks the technical expertise to do it effectively. FWWB’s training introduced her to the preparation of biopesticides and biofertilizers, and the local Bio-Input Centre set up under the project further supported her transition to sustainable farming. Now, Radhaben has also started processing her groundnuts for oil instead of selling them as raw produce. This value addition has significantly increased her income, offering her better returns and making her farming more profitable. Radhaben recalls, “We had no idea about crop rotation or proper methods of planting crops like chillies and brinjal. The organisation taught us these things. In our area, very few people grow drumsticks. But since they are highly nutritious, I received support to start a business based on leaf powder production.”
“Rainfall is erratic in this region. Moringa is a climate-resilient crop ideal for such conditions. From the seeds sown on just half a bigha in June 2024, Radha now has 360 drumstick trees, which are already providing income.”
Radhaben’s drumstick powder has found buyers across multiple villages, including Shirvaniya, Sukhpar, Salangpur, Jasdan, and Vavdi. Its health benefits are being recognised locally—Radhaben herself noticed an improvement in her health after regularly consuming the powder. One of her relatives validates this result.
Inspired by the results, Radhaben has distributed drumstick seeds to fellow farmers and is now planning to cultivate drumsticks across three bighas of land. With support from FWWB, she is moving towards branding and marketing under the label ‘Dhara’, operating through her Krishna Enterprise.
Radhaben says, “Good health comes first. If we care for our health, everything else follows. I feel like I’m growing nectar in my field through these drumstick trees and other crops.” Alongside earning income from her newly established drumstick (Moringa) & vegetables drying unit, Radhaben now brings the gift of health to many in her community. Given the strong and growing market demand, Radhaben plans to expand this activity further in collaboration with the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) working in the region, positioning herself as a champion of women-led entrepreneurship and community well-being.
“Initially, I wasn’t sure if the seeds given by the organisation would even sprout into drumstick trees. I was equally unsure about operating the solar dryer or making powder from the leaves using the machines. I often wondered—will I be able to justify the trust the organisation has placed in me? But today, I feel relieved and proud. Not only have I succeeded, but I have also generated income,” shares Radha Magan Rojasara, a 56-year-old farmer from Shirvaniya village, Babra taluka, Amreli district, Gujarat.”