Produção agropecuária da moringa: autossuficiência em sementes e expansão da área cultivada.

Abstract

This study analyzes the economic feasibility of producing and expanding Moringa Oleifera cultivation in Brazil's semi-arid Northeast, considering the region's climatic characteristics and the productive potential of the crop. The research was conducted based on real field data obtained from a rural property located in Belém do Brejo do Cruz – PB, where two cultivation areas were implemented: a 0.52-hectare seedbed and a 1.65-hectare irrigated plantation. Economic analysis tools such as Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Profitability Index (PI), and Payback were applied under different productivity and pricing scenarios. The results indicate that moringa is economically viable, obtaining an NPV of R$ 2,251,907.65 in scenario 1; NPV of R$ 1,552,712.75 in scenario 2; NPV of R$ 1,046,259.04 in scenario 3; NPV of R$ 72,959.70 in scenario 4; and R$ 0.00 (induced by trial and error, manipulating the selling price) in scenario 5. The study demonstrates success even under adverse conditions, such as severe droughts, and also presents potential for revenue diversification with by-products (requiring new investments). The research also highlights the alignment of the cultivation with the Sustainable Development Goals, standing out as a promising alternative for economic and environmental sustainability in the Brazilian semi-arid region