Prospects of Moringa Cultivation in Saudi Arabia

The Moringa is a fast-growing evergreen or deciduous, multipurpose tree species comprised of 13 species. They are thought to be native to India from where they have been introduced in many different tropical and subtropical countries and are now growing throughout the world including Saudi Arabia (Moringa peregrina a native species). Moringa tree is regarded as an excellent source of nutrition for human food and as treatment of many different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine for human diseases. Leaves, green pods, flowers and roasted seeds are used as vegetable; roots are used as spice; seeds are used for cooking and cosmetic oil. Plants contain important preventive and curative compounds, which are being used as antimicrobial agent. Moringa plants are also used for many other purposes like water purifier, green manure, mycotrophic plants, reforestation, alley crop, gum, ornamental, pest control, animal feed etc. Because of its numerous economic importances, easy propagation and sustainability for cultivation under a wide range of climatic and soil conditions; the plant is suitable for cultivation in Saudi Arabia. The plant is highly drought tolerant and is widely cultivated in arid and semiarid regions. It can be cultivated in a wide range of soil type, but prefers a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil. It tolerates a soil pH 5.0– 9.0 with an optimum of 6.3-7.0. Moringa is resistant to most pests and diseases. All these environmental factors and soil conditions are highly favorable for cultivation of Moringa in Saudi Arabia. M. oleifera another widely cultivated species, may be introduced along with the native species as a future crop in arid and semiarid conditions in Saudi Arabia for economic importance as well as for reducing the desertification. Further studies on population ecology and genetic variation are very important to help protect this valuable tree in Saudi Arabia.