House Deputy Speaker Sharon S. Garin is pushing for the creation of a road map that will detail strategies for increasing the production of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) to meet the increasing demand for the crop.
“[Malunggay] is a product endemic in our country. In can grow anywhere. It can grow in the backyards of the smallest houses in our communities. It is probably one of the least appreciated products,” Garin said in a statement on September 6.
“And similarly, like in mango or in any other products, we lack the proper marketing support, research and development, and all the other support that the government can give for this product and for the farmers,” she added.
Garin is the author of House Bill (HB) 6555, or the Malunggay Development Act, that seeks to provide sufficient support for the improvement of the country’s local malunggay production.
During the third deliberation of the Agriculture and Food Committee on HB 6555, it was found that the country has resorted to importing malunggay due to insufficient local output. The Philippines sources malunggay from India and Africa.
“In 2016, only 35,379 metric tons were [produced] in the Philippines. Today, 100 grams of fresh malunggay are sold for P5 and P100 for 100 grams of dried ones,” Garin said.
The Deputy Speaker said the passage of HB 6555 would enable farmers to improve their malunggay production, as the measure calls for the allocation of an initial P50 million for the initiative.
“It may not be a very glamorous bill right now, but it will go down to the benefit of those communities where malunggay is very abundant and very easy to plant,” Garin said.
Under HB 6555, the government would form a Malunggay Development Committee (MDC) chaired by the agriculture secretary to oversee the development of the industry.
The bill proposed that the government would “appropriate land usage for malunggay to increase and sustain its productivity and agricultural output.”
The government would also “organize systemic programs that could improve production of malunggay through its seeding, cultivation, harvesting and proper processing,” it added.
The bill calls on the government to strengthen its research and development activities for malunggay production.
Garin also wants the month of November declared as the National Malunggay Month once HB 6555 is enacted.