Moringa and Tamarind: Two Common Myths, Corrected

Two myths corrected

• Moringa is not leguminous. It belongs to its own family, Moringaceae.
• Tamarind is not endemic to South Asia. It is native to tropical Africa.
• Moringa is native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Sources: Wikipedia, Moringa oleifera and Wikipedia, Tamarind.

Three genuine facts

• In India, most tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
• India exports tamarind and moringa seeds.
• Seeds of both trees can be used to make biofuel.

• Moringa’s long, slender pods look like bean pods. That is why people call it a legume.
• Tamarind reached South Asia so long ago, likely along ancient trade routes, that many assume it began there.
• Both trees give food, fodder and medicine.
• Both now also supply biofuel feedstock.

MSP for minor forest produce

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED run an MSP scheme for Minor Forest Produce. It began in 2013–14.
• It started with ten items. Tamarind was one of them.
• The list has since grown to 87 items.
• The scheme gives collectors a guaranteed floor price instead of leaving them to middlemen.
• Sources: PIB, MFP procurement and PIB, new MFP items.

Legal backing

• The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises forest dwellers’ right to collect and sell minor forest produce.
• Minor forest produce gives them steady cash without cutting trees.