Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Moringa Production, Consumption Patterns Among Smallholder Farmers, and Utilization in Abergele District, Central Tigray Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Moringa oleifera, a plant renowned for its nutritional and medicinal properties, holds significant potential for addressing food insecurity and improving livelihoods, particularly in developing regions. This study investigates the socioeconomic factors that influence Moringa production, household consumption patterns, and utilization purposes among smallholder farmers in the Abergele District of the Central Tigray Zone, Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed. Abergele Woreda was purposefully selected, followed by the selection of three Kebeles (Mearey, Lemlem, and Embarufael) from a total of 13 Kebeles in the Woreda, based on production levels and accessibility. A sample of 234 household heads (93 Moringa producers and 141 non-producers) was selected using stratified and simple random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from household surveys, semi structured interviews with agricultural experts and community leaders (KII), and focus group discussions (FGD) with farmers. The study employed multiple statistical tools such as binary logistic regression, chi-square tests, and ANOVA to validate quantitative findings. Results from the binary logistic regression indicated that the age of the household head, access to extension services, education level, and marital status positively and significantly influenced Moringa production. Conversely, engagement in non-farm activities and membership in savings and credit cooperatives had a negative and significant impact. Regarding consumption, 54.6% of respondents consumed Moringa leaves by adding them to beverages, 40.0% in cooked forms, and 5.4% raw. The primary perceived purpose of Moringa was medicinal (67.8%), followed by nutritional (26.7%), with limited awareness of its environmental protection (5.2%) and water purification (0.3%) benefits. The study concludes that Moringa production is influenced by a combination of demographic, socioeconomic, and institutional factors (age, education, marital status, and extension services). While consumption is higher among producers due to perceived medicinal benefits, a lack of awareness regarding its full nutritional and economic advantages among nonproducers hinders broader adoption. To promote Moringa, it is essential to integrate it into food security policies, invest in processing facilities, provide agronomic training, and enhance community awareness through targeted extension services.