Farmers who have picked the lowly malunggay over other high-value vegetables will gather to boost the development of the malunggay industry in the Philippines during the 2nd Malunggay National Congress on November 24 at the De La Salle University in Manila, a press release from the Department of Agriculture said.

Organized by the DA Biotechnology Program Office – The Biotechnology Information and Organization Network and the College of Science – De La Salle University, the meeting will attended by members of the academe, research and extension personnel of government and non-government agencies, growers and processors of malunggay and the business community.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Commission on Higher Education chief, Nona Ricafort will deliver the keynote address during the opening rites, the press release said.

Plenary speakers include Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who authored the book “Moringa: Malunggay of the Philippines”, BIONet Pilipinas president Gaudencio Petalcorin Jr., and MoringGaling Founding chairperson Berandette Arellano.

Also speaking at the event are Moringa Growers Federation of the Philippines president Ely Udarbe, Plant Pathology Division of the Bureau of Plant Industry chief Dr. Vivencio Mamaril, and chief of the National Crops Research and Development Center Dr. Hermigilda Gabertan.

Georgia Valencia, Food and Drug Regulatory officer of the Bureau of Food and Drugs, Perla Baltazar, Program Development officer of the DA Biotech Program, and Dr. Lorma Vlera of the Marina Marcos State University will also deliver lectures.

Zonito Torevillasof Power Nut, and Terso Rasco, a malunggay farmer-scientist are also among the speakers.

This year’s theme is “Malunggay para sa Kalikasan, Kasulugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran”.

The gathering will present malunggay research outputs, as well as the business climate of the moringa or malunggay industry in the Philippines.

Director Alicia Ilaga, outgoing chief of the DA-BPO said the event will be highlighted by the launching of the Malunggay Bionegosyo Database, and the opening of an exhibit and business matching.

Launched as a simple program to promote farming for natural ingredients by the DA-BPO, the malunggay campaign is short of becoming a national program, as the DA is stepping up preparations for the massive cultivation of moringa with the support of the private sector, which has put up malunggay nurseries in different parts of the country.

Ilaga, who believes the malunggay can emerge from a mere backyard vegetable-tree into a commercially-viable vegetable crop in the country, said more and more farmers are enthusiastic about the developments in the malunggay industry.

She said there is an increasing demand for malunggay planting materials, because of the economic opportunities of planting malunggay whether for backyard farming or for commercial cultivation.  The seeds of moringa produce all-purpose oil, while the leaves can be processed for food and feed.  Scientists are also being prodded to try producing biofuels from moringa oil, as substitute for bio-fuel produced from coconut oil.

“We want to promote malunggay not only to help solve the problem of malnutrition, but address the problem of hunger and poverty in the rural areas.  In the process, we are creating livelihood opportunities that can benefit tens of thousands of jobless Filipinos,” Ilaga said in the press release.*

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