TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY

This chapter discusses the details of how the business will

operate including the processes, materials, location, storage and

transportation

Technical Process

1. Cultivation

To ensure top results and benefits, the following four steps are

fundamental in moringa cultivation:

• Land preparation

3.75 hectares (37,500 square meters) of the land will be used to

grow the moringa. The ease with which the roots spread is a

necessary condition in plant growth and development. Moringa

therefore requires a well-drained loamy or sandy soil for optimal

growth. The land will be slashed where necessary and all unwanted

materials removed from the field. If planting density is high,

the land must be ploughed and harrowed to a maximum depth of 30

cm. If planting density is low (>1 m x 1 m), pits will be dig and

refill them with the soil. This ensures good root system

penetration without causing too much land erosion (ploughing can

be risky in some tropical environments, in the cases of heavy

rains, wind or sloping). In this case, the pits must be 30 to 50

cm deep, and 20 to 40 cm wide. When refilling the pit, the soil

will be mixed with manure.

The business will rent a tractor to plow the land.

• Propagation

Hard woodcuttings of one meter long and at least 4 to 5 cm

in diameter can also be used for propagation. When planted, one

third of the stem must be buried in the soil.

Plants are spaced 50 cm to 1 m apart. Watering of the plants

should take place every 2 to 3 days depending on the dampness of

the soil, 10-20 ml of water applied to each bag is recommended.

2. Maintenance

Moringa requires a lot of care and maintenance to produce the

expected yields. The following activities will be done for the

maintenance of moringa tree:

• Shaping the Trees

o As Moringa oleifera tends to produce long branches

that grow vertically and produce leaves and fruits

only at their extremity, yields will be low if the

trees are left to grow naturally. The tree can grow

to heights of about 3 to 4 meters in the first year

and continue to about 10-12 m thereafter. It is

therefore essential to give the trees a good shape

when they are young, by enhancing lateral branching

thus creating bushy growth.

• Irrigation - artificial application of water to the land

or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of moring a.

Water pump will be used to supply the irrigation for

moringa.

• Weeding – process of removing weeds in the plants. This

process also loosens the soil for good aeration.

• Mulching - consists in covering the soil with crop or

weed residue to reduce the loss of soil moisture and to

minimize irrigation needs during the dry months. This

also reduces weed growth.

• Fertilizing – Instead of chemical fertilizer, farmyard

manure (animal dung mixed with plant residue) or compost

(plant residue left to decompose on a heap) will be used

fertilizing the moringa because organic fertilizer can

provide the necessary nutrients as well as improve the

soil structure. The best fertilization is ensured by

mixing fast decomposing residue (animal dung, green and

soft plant residue) with slow decomposing residue (straw,

dry plant residue and thin branches).

3. Harvest

Harvesting of shoots and leaves will be done manually with a pair

of shears, a sickle or a sharp knife will. The produce will be

harvested at the coolest time of the day: early morning or late

in the evening. It is important to make sure there is no dew on

the produce before harvesting, especially in the morning, to

avoid rot during transport.

4. Storage

The produce will be stored in a closed sack, ready for delivery.

5. Transportation

Transportation encompasses the delivery of the moringa stems to

the customer. Trucks will be used as transportation vehicle in

the business.

Location

The land that will be used for the business measures 5 hectares

meters located in km. 18 Pacol, Naga City.

Building and Facilities

Moringa Farm will use four facilities for the business essential

for the operation and administration of the farm: the

administrative office and the warehouse, water pump and a rest

shed for the farmers.

The warehouse will be a wooden building covering 150 square

meters

Supplies

18,750 mature cuttings of moringa, one meter in length, 4 to

5 cm in diameter.

Fertilizers (Compost)

o Animal manure mixed with plant residue

Agricultural Tools

o 50 Shears

o 25 hoes

o 25 Harrows

o 25 shovels