Once regarded as a modest backyard plant, Moringa is now being recognized by scientists and nutritionists as a powerful weapon in Pakistan’s battle against child malnutrition.

• Adapted to thrive in Pakistan’s arid conditions, Moringa grows fast, requires little water, and is nutritionally dense in every part – leaves, pods, seeds, flowers, and even roots. 

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo

In the sun-scorched fields of rural Sindh, where the soil is cracked and the air is dry, most families survive on little more than a piece of roti and a simple boiled vegetable. Yet amidst this harsh landscape, something extraordinary is growing quietly, steadily, and full of promise. This is Moringa oleifera, known locally as suhanjna, or the drumstick tree. Once regarded as a modest backyard plant, Moringa is now being recognized by scientists and nutritionists as a powerful weapon in Pakistan’s battle against child malnutrition. The Moringa Tree, also known as the Drumstick tree is nearly entirely edible. It can grow with little water, has multiple times the amount of nutrients as oranges, carrots and milk, plus grows very well in regions of malnutrition. While the aptly named Drumstick, tree has a rather slender appearance, it is anything but frail.

A tropical native, this prolific powerhouse has spread its roots across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. And now, it seems to have anchored itself in American soil.  Part of a new wave of exotic vegetables, Moringa oleifera (MO) is a botanical platypus. A member of the order Brassicales, it’s a distant relative of both the cabbage and papaya. Its roots taste so much like its cousin horseradish that it’s earned the title ‘horseradish tree’. Its fruit, a popular Indian vegetable, looks like a cross between an okra and a pole bean with the flavour of asparagus. Its cooked flowers mimic mushrooms in taste, while its leaves hint at spinach and lettuce. Its immature seeds are used like peas and if fried when mature, resemble peanuts. In fact, it’s hard to find a part of Moringa that isn’t edible. Even the bark is sometimes taken internally for diarrhoea. But that doesn’t come as a surprise to the locals, who consider it a living pharmacy. Moringa has proven to be a multipurpose arsenal that dispenses some of the best secrets nature has to offer. For centuries, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a host of ailments including anaemia, bronchitis, tumours, scurvy, and skin infections.

Drought hardy and disease resistant, MO is a godsend during the dry season, when little food is available. The fresh leaves and branches serve as an excellent source of forage. Indeed, a Nicaraguan study confirms MO’s ability to boost milk production in cows without affecting its taste, smell, or colour. The leaves offer a spectrum of nutrition, rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as protein, calcium, and iron. They are so nutritious in fact, that they contain more vitamin A than carrots, more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more potassium than bananas, and more protein than either milk or eggs! A traditional item in pickles and curries, the raw leaves are also perfect for salads.

Malnutrition – A Crisis Beyond Hunger

Pakistan faces a silent but devastating crisis malnutrition. It affects millions, but its harshest impact is on children under the age of five. According to the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2018, the statistics are dire:

• Over 40% of children in Sindh are stunted
• 41.3% are underweight
• 23.3% suffer from wasting (being dangerously thin for their height)
• Nationwide, nearly 10 million children are stunted — 6% of the global burden

In Sindh alone, 98% of children under two years of age do not receive proper nourishment — a number that reflects the failures of both policy and implementation. “This is not just a health emergency; it’s a development catastrophe,” says Dr. Muhammad Ali, Paediatrician. “Malnourished children grow into less productive adults, earn less, and are more prone to illness. It’s a cycle of poverty we cannot afford.

The First 1,000 Days: A Critical Window

Experts emphasize that the most vital period in a child’s development is the first 1,000 days — from conception to the second birthday. Intervening in this window can prevent stunting and its irreversible consequences: weakened immunity, delayed brain development, and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Yet, Pakistan’s nutrition funding often focuses on emergency feeding for visibly wasted children, neglecting long-term prevention of stunting. This misalignment has led to persistent malnutrition across generations.  “Proper nutrition starts with the mother,” says Dr. Salik. “Iron, folic acid, iodized salt, and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months — these are critical. But they’re not enough without broader access to nutrient-rich foods.”

Moringa: A Local Superfoodl Potential

That’s where Moringa comes in. Adapted to thrive in Pakistan’s arid conditions, Moringa grows fast, requires little water, and is nutritionally dense in every part   leaves, pods, seeds, flowers, and even roots.  Just 100 grams of Moringa leaves offer:

• 15x more potassium than bananas
• 7x more vitamin C than oranges
• 15x more calcium than milk
• High levels of iron, protein, and vitamin A

“Moringa is not just a supplement. “It’s a complete, natural food. It supports immune function, fights inflammation, and helps with growth and recovery — especially in undernourished children.” Traditionally used in South Asia to treat diabetes, infections, and high blood pressure, Moringa is now globally recognized as a “superfood.” In countries like India, Kenya, and the Philippines, Moringa has been integrated into national nutrition policies. Pakistan, however, has yet to fully utilize its potential.

A Policy Gap That Costs Us All

Despite the alarming statistics, malnutrition remains low on Pakistan’s political agenda. Health spending continues to lag, and few national programs address child nutrition in a systematic, sustained way. Even worse, recent moves like the 18% GST on formula milk threaten to make infant nutrition even more inaccessible for the poor. Combined with poor sanitation, early marriage, food insecurity, and lack of awareness, these factors trap millions of children in cycles of undernutrition and disease. “The numbers are frightening, but what’s worse is that they’re accepted as normal.  Rooted in Our Soil, Ready for Change Moringa offers more than nutrition — it offers economic opportunity. Its dried leaves can be sold as powder, its seeds pressed for oil or used to purify water. It can be cultivated in backyards, school gardens, and community farms. With the right support, Moringa could provide both sustenance and income for rural families, especially in climate-stressed regions like Tharparkar and Cholistan.  To unlock its potential, experts recommend:

• Including Moringa in school feeding and maternal health programs
• Training rural communities in cultivation and processing
• Distributing seeds via agricultural extension services
• Adding Moringa powder to relief food rations
• Running awareness campaigns on its preparation and health benefits