Amid the earthy aroma of freshly harvested moringa leaves, Ponnarasi moves through her compact facility with quiet confidence. At 38, she’s left her humble farming roots behind to inspire thousands with her entrepreneurial spirit.

As she addresses a workshop packed with eager entrepreneurs, her words resonate with determination and wisdom born of experience. Her journey from a small-town farmer to a celebrated entrepreneur is as remarkable as the plant she cultivates.

Raised in a family deeply rooted in agriculture, she grew up surrounded by fields, where she learned the value of hard work. “I didn’t know moringa could change my life,” she says, “but it has given me a purpose, and I want others to find theirs too.”

Harvesting the potential of moringa

A mother of four, Ponnarasi entered the world of moringa farming in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, driven by a simple yet profound observation. “I’ve been cultivating moringa on our family’s 10 acres of land for the past decade,” she explains. “Traditionally, we’ve sold leaves, seeds, and roots, but facing intense competition from other farmers, the prices for moringa seeds plummeted, often dropping as low as Rs 5 to 10 per kilogram,” she adds.

The turning point came during a visit to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural College, Coimbatore, where she met John Kennedy, an agricultural expert with a deep understanding of moringa’s value.

“I heard him talk about how most of the farmers focus on yielding profit by just selling the raw material, rather than making the best use of the crop,” Ponnarasi says, a thought that changed her perspective towards farming.

Kennedy introduced her to the concept of value addition — transforming raw moringa produce into high-demand products like oil, powder, and cosmetics. Inspired by his insights, Ponnarasi saw an opportunity to go beyond farming and venture into something innovative.

Eager to learn, she visited the........

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