13-Year-Old Goan Girl Turns Backyard Moringa Trees into Homemade Powder Business

Thirteen-year-old Grace de Souza from Moira, Goa, utilized her summer break starting May 1, 2026, to launch a small homemade moringa powder business using trees from her family's backyard, according to a report by The Better India.

Grace, a Class 9 student at St Mary's Convent High School in Mapusa, observed that while her family's garden had two moringa trees, many other households lacked them. Inspired by her mother Maria de Mello—who runs a home-based venture called The Goan Homestead selling pickles, masalas, and handmade items—Grace decided to process the leaves into a usable powder for neighbors and customers.

The Multi-Day Preparation Process

According to the reported details, making the powder requires a meticulous multi-day method:

• Harvesting and Sorting: Fresh leaves are plucked and individually separated from their stems.
• Drying: The leaves undergo one day of sun drying on trays, followed by two to three days of shade drying, with Grace periodically turning them to ensure even drying.
• Grinding and Packaging: Crisped leaves are processed in a regular mixer grinder, and her parents assist in sealing the final product into packets.

Grace noted that one kilogram of fresh leaves yields approximately 250 grams of powder. Each 100-gram packet is priced at Rs 150.

Sales and Future Plans

Within slightly over a month of operation, the young entrepreneur sold around 20 packets, generating nearly Rs 3,000 in earnings, which she is permitted to save. Customers primarily discover the product when visiting her home to purchase items from her mother's existing business.

Alongside her venture, Grace maintains household responsibilities, including watering the garden at sunrise and helping care for her younger brother. She has expressed intentions to continue producing the powder alongside her studies once school reopens, while the family has begun planting additional moringa saplings to meet interest.

Readers can verify the original announcement through The Better India's lifestyle coverage.