MOST ASKED QUESTIONS FOR MOORINGA/Sahajan/Drumstick

1. Which moringa varieties do you recommend and provide?

We work with well-established high-yielding varieties developed by Indian institutions iKheti works with a curated set of moringa seed lines, internally mapped as iKheti‑01 / iKheti‑02 / iKheti‑03 / iKheti‑04, chosen for different soil and climate conditions/assessment. For each village or cluster, our team recommends a suitable “iKheti code” based on soil testing, water availability and buyer requirements, so that farmers don’t have to worry about technical variety names.

2. Is the guidance and support free of cost?

Yes. All technical guidance, regular agronomist support, field visits, digital tools, training materials, and market facilitation are provided without any upfront charges. Accordingly, farmers do not pay any separate fixed fee for:

• Seeds with PreSoak solution

• Crop planning and technical guidance

• Standard training sessions and field visits

• Support for aggregation and facilitation of sale
  
  

iKheti works on a collaboration model, where earnings are shared from the actual sale of produce as per the revenue‑sharing agreement mutually signed with each farmer.

This means our effort and your effort are both rewarded only when the crop is grown well and sold well.

3. How should moringa be planted — spacing, depth, irrigation etc.?

Planting is straightforward but requires proper technique for good establishment and long-term productivity. We cover the exact spacing (different options), sowing depth, pit preparation, initial irrigation schedule, and ongoing management practices in detail during our onboarding session and through the personalised cultivation calendar. Every plot is different, so iKheti does not publish a one‑size‑fits‑all formula online.

In general, we design a farm‑specific plantation plan, which may include:

• Spacing model (tree‑type vs leaf‑heavy model)

• Seed depth and nursery vs direct sowing approach

• Irrigation and nutrient schedule matching your water and soil

Farmers who enrol in the program receive a detailed field layout and full planting protocol directly from the iKheti agronomy team, along with on‑ground or digital support.

If you’re interested in seeing which model fits your land, you can share your land details with the iKheti team and request a planning session.

4. Why should a farmer consider moringa cultivation with iKheti?

Moringa is a resilient, multi-harvest crop that can provide regular income with relatively low recurring costs after the first year. Many farmers have seen meaningful improvement in their cash flow because it allows multiple income streams (leaves and drumsticks) throughout the year.
Many farmers approach moringa after years of traditional crops giving unstable or modest margins. When cultivation and marketing are organised together, moringa can become a steady second engine of income.

For example (illustrative case):

• A farmer with around 3–4 bigha under traditional crops was facing frequent price shocks.

• After shifting part of his land to moringa under the iKheti program and following the recommended schedule, his overall farm income became more predictable, with a combination of regular leaf harvests and pod sales.

• The farmer still continues some traditional crops, but moringa now plays the role of a stable, higher‑value component in his income mix.

  
  

Individual results will vary, but a common pattern we see is: better planning, better quality, better market access — and, over time, a healthier income graph compared to doing everything alone.

Another example: A farmer in Rajasthan with 2 acres who joined our program last season reported a noticeable increase in yearly earnings compared to traditional crops, mainly due to consistent harvests and better market access facilitated through our network. Every farmer’s result depends on management and local conditions, but the crop offers a practical path toward diversified and sustainable income.

5. Is this part of any government project or scheme?

This is iKheti’s Commercial Farmer Collaboration Program — an agriculture startup by AVI venture studio curated by RisingIndia ThinkTank ® initiative focused on helping farmers adopt commercially viable, technology-supported cultivation practices. Our goal is to create successful farmer clusters and support long-term growth through knowledge sharing and market linkage.

6. Do you buy back the produce at a fixed price?

We work on a transparent revenue-sharing model as per our Agricultural Collaboration and Revenue Sharing Agreement. Farmers receive the major share of the actual sale proceeds, while iKheti facilitates aggregation, quality guidance, and market access. This way, both sides benefit when the produce fetches good prices in the market. How an Agricultural Collaboration and Revenue Sharing framework, is better?:

• iKheti helps aggregate and facilitate the sale of produce through suitable channels.

• The actual price comes from real market transactions at the time of sale.

• The sale proceeds are then shared between the farmer and iKheti in pre‑agreed proportions, as recorded in the signed agreement.

• This approach keeps the farmer’s ownership and upside intact, while ensuring iKheti is equally interested in getting a better price in the market.
  
  

  
  

7. Where and how will the training be conducted?

Training sessions are conducted at our demonstration sites or designated cluster locations. The program includes both classroom sessions and practical field work covering key aspects of cultivation, plant care, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. We focus on making the process simple and doable for small and marginal farmers.

8. What kind of profit can one expect from one bigha of moringa?

Profit varies depending on management, rainfall, soil quality, and market prices. We share realistic yield estimates and cost breakdowns during the onboarding process so farmers can evaluate the opportunity themselves. Our focus is on helping farmers understand the full economics before making a decision. Actual profit depends on:

• Soil, water, and local climate

• Management quality and adherence to iKheti protocols

• Market prices in the season

• Target product (leaf vs pods vs seed) mix

Because of this, we do not quote a fixed profit figure on the agreement.

Instead, we:

• Give you a sample business model (expected yield range, cost heads, possible price range) during counselling.

• Let you see existing reference plots / case studies where possible.

• Emphasise that both upside and downside of market price are shared; we don’t promise unrealistic “per bigha income” numbers.

Our focus is on long‑term, stable, transparent income, not on marketing by quoting a single high number.

9. Why is iKheti promoting integrated farming?

We are committed to supporting farmers on a genuine growth journey. By combining practical know-how, consistent guidance, and market facilitation, we aim to help farmers build sustainable income streams and reduce dependency on single-season crops. Our long-term vision is to create thriving farmer communities that benefit from better practices, stronger networks, and improved livelihoods. We grow only when farmers grow. iKheti is building a cluster‑based, farmer‑first value chain in which:

• Farmers get technical upgrading and market access without paying upfront fees.

• The company’s success is directly linked to the farmer’s realised price, not to selling inputs.

Over time, Lead Farmers’ Councils and FPOs will be formed so that local farmer leaders earn extra by guiding and aggregating others.

Long‑term benefits:

For farmers:

• Stable crop plan and offtake structure instead of random crops each season.

• Higher bargaining power through aggregation and grading.

• A clear written agreement that protects land ownership and farmer rights while defining revenue share.

For iKheti:

• A strong network of trained, reliable farmers growing quality moringa and other crops at scale.

• Predictable supply for institutional and export buyers.

• A sustainable business model where the company grows only if farmer incomes grow.

• Our intention is to build a transparent, trust‑based partnership – not just buy from farmers but grow with farmers.

  
  
  

Transparent farming starts with clear information. We encourage every farmer to evaluate the opportunity carefully and join only if it aligns with their goals.

iKheti Team

Supporting Farmers | Building Sustainable Futures