Moringa Oleifera A Tree Giving Life to Rural Communities

Transcription

1 Moringa Oleifera A Tree Giving Life to Rural Communities Moringa is considered to have originated in Augra and Oudh, in the northern region of India, south of the Hamalaya Mountains. It is one of the most nutritious trees in the world. The tree has vitamins, minerals and amino acids which are required for healthy living. It is used for different purposes such as human consumption, water purification, feeding livestock, growth enhancer, for medicinal and industrial uses. The leaves of the tree could help in addressing food insecurity and poverty in rural communities as it is very nutritious. In South Africa, the Lammangata Moringa project is a project that produces and sell Moringa to rural communities. This study was therefore compiled with the aim of creating awareness on the benefits of Moringa.

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3 Moringa Oleifera A Tree Giving Life to Rural Communities by S. Lekgau

4 Foreword This Moringa case study was compiled with the aim of creating awareness of the importance of Moringa production. Moringa has various reported health bene ts and has the potential to create employment and income in rural areas through primary and secondary production/processing. In this case study the story of Ms Mathabatha is told. Ms Mathabatha has been successful in the production and marketing of Moringa Oleifera. This case study provides information on the origin of Moringa and the bene ts that could be derived from engaging in the production or consumption of Moringa. The case study further provides information on how Ms Mathabatha discovered the bene ts of Moringa and how she started to produce the trees. The report also sheds light on her learning curve, institutions that got involved in the project and how she manage the project. The report concludes with challenges of producing Moringa and how they could be addressed. It is hoped that this case study will provide information that will increase the knowledge of indigenous trees usefulness and bene ts. It is further hoped that the study will encourage upcoming entrepreneurs to take advantage of this crop in terms of production and its marketing. Acknowledgement This case study was compiled through assistance of researchers in the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC). The NAMC would further like to acknowledge the assistance of Ms Mavis Mathabatha who shared her experience in the production and marketing of Moringa. 4i

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION Historical background Moringa species Production regions Cultivating Moringa Production yield Moringa s uses Human consumption Water puri cation Feeding of livestock Industrial uses Other uses of Moringa Moringa s nutritional value Nutritional comparisons of Moringa Moringa pods or the fruits International trade in Moringa...11 SECTION The Lammangata Moringa project Achievement Her philosophy The project beginnings A learning curve Institutions involved in the project Marketing strategy Product pricing Production strategy Diversi cation strategy Cost strategy General challenges of Moringa production Conclusion and recommendations References...21 ii5

6 List of Figures Figure 1: Moringa oleifera...2 Figure 2: Trunk and leaves of Moringa stenopetala...2 Figure 3: Uses of different parts of Moringa...5 Figure 4: Treating dirty water with Moringa stenopetala...7 Figure 5: Moringa de-hulled seeds...8 Figure 6: Moringa leaf powder...9 Figure 7. Moringa pods (fruits)...10 Figure 8: Packed Moringa oleifera leaf powder...16 Figure 9: Breakdown of input costs...18 List of Tables Table 1: Production parameters of Moringa at rst cutting...4 Table 2: Nutrient comparison per 100 grams...10 Table 3. Moringa oleifera...17 List of Acronyms GFU ECHO SA UNICHEF WHO WFP Global Facilitation Unit Educational Concern for Hunger Organisation South Africa United Nations Children s Fund World Health Organisation World Food Program 6iii

7 SECTION 1 MORINGA TREE - A TREE GIVING LIFE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES 1.1 Historical background Moringa is considered to have its origin in Agra and Oudh, in the northwest region of India, south of the Himalaya Mountains. There is evidence that the tree has been cultivated in India for many thousands of years. Moringa is cultivated in the tropics for various purposes i.e as a food crop, medicinal and industrial uses. The Indian people knew that the seeds contain an edible oil and they used it for medicinal purposes (Foidl, Makkar & Becker, 2001). Many African countries use Moringa leaf powder as a food supplement to ght malnutrition and to assist people suffering from micronutrient de ciency. The leaf powder is rich in proteins and micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals and all essential amino acids. Moringa has many names due to its remarkable, multipurpose uses. In english it is commonly known as horseradish, drumstick, never die, mother s best friend, western Indian Ben and radish tree (Ramachandran, Peter, Gopalakrishnan, 1980). Moringa has many other names, depending on anecdotal evidence in different countries. In African countries, Moringa is called the Miracle Tree and in Northern Sotho Moringa is called Makgona tšohle. Moringa has also been receiving increasing attention from food processing industries. According to the Global Facilitation Unit (GFU), 2008, African companies manufacturing cereals are interested in adding Moringa leaf powder to enrich their products with a low cost, local source of vitamins and minerals. Moringa has the potential to save millions of lives in poor countries where malnutrition is prevalent because of its high nutritional value. According to Moringa SA (2011), 80% of the production and processing costs is in manpower. This means that production of Moringa for leaves and for other uses has the potential to create more job opportunities. 1.2 Moringa species There are 14 known species of the Moringa family belonging to the genus Moringaceae in the world, but only two species are distributed widely in Africa. The species are Moringa oleifera, as shown in Figure 1 and Moringa stenopetala, as shown in Figure 2. The choice of Moringa species depends on the intended end use. There is evidence that Moringa stenopetala is more effective as a water puri er than Moringa oleifera (Jahn, 1988). However, studies have showed that the puri cation quality of Moringa oleifera changes with the 1

8 season (Foidl et al., 2001). In African countries, Moringa oleifera is grown for manufacturing leaf powder while Moringa stenopetala is used for food crops. Figure 1: Moringa oleifera Source: ECHO, 2007 Figure 2: Trunk and leaves of Moringa stenopetala Source: ECHO, Production regions Moringa is grown mainly in semi-arid regions and throughout the tropics. The tree is grown in Africa, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The concentration of production is in India where it is commercially produced on ha. Commercial production of Moringa in South Africa is still at an infant stage, which makes it dif cult to quantify hectares under production, volume and value of the commodity. However, there are a few farmers who are producing the commodity as a food supplement. 2

9 South African provinces engaged in production are those that are highly affected by poverty and malnutrition, such as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. In this three Provinces Moringa is mainly grown by households. In South Africa, Moringa was introduced to rural communities in 2006 by the Lammangata Moringa project, a subsidiary of Sedikong sa Lerato which is a drop-in centre that feeds children. The project is based in Limpopo Province, Ga-Mphahlele in Tooseng village. The project was formally launched in 2009 through a partnership with a charity organisation named Star sh Greathearts Foundation. Most households have the trees in their back yards for leaves and pods production. In these communities, Moringa is used to ght malnutrition among children and households whose members have ailments. 1.4 Cultivating Moringa Moringa can be grown either by direct seeding, transplanting or through utilisation of hard stem cuttings. The tree can be grown in most types of soils, from acid to alkaline (Duke, 1983). However, Moringa trees do not grow well in cool temperatures, low sunlight, or wet conditions. It is a drought tolerant tree and will grow even during the 6 months of the dry season and can be found growing naturally at an elevation of up to 1000 m above sea level (Foidl et al., 2001). Moringa is a fast growing tree and has been found to grow by 6 7m in one year, receiving less than 400 mm mean rainfall (Odee, 1998). The maximum height is between 7 12m tall. The tree takes 8 months to a year to reach owering and can ower all year round when climatic conditions are favourable. 1.5 Production yield The yields of Moringa differ, depending on the species, season, variety, fertilisation and irrigation. The best yields can be realised when the plant is grown under warm, dry conditions with some supplement of irrigation. For fresh leaves, leaf weight is 1 5 kg per tree/year. This is equivalent to kg/ha per year at 1 m x 1 m spacing. It is important to note that the commercial yield of this plant in winter declines by 50%. At 10 cm x 10 cm spacing, the leaf yields are 7 8 kg/m 2. A study conducted in Nicaragua by Foidl et al. (2001) has shown that yields of Moringa differ. The yield depend on plant density as shown in Table 1 and as to whether the plants are under irrigation or dry land. Yields of Moringa is also impacted by the seasons especially during summer when there is more rainfall. For example, a plant density of could yield 19.6 tons of fresh matter and 3.33 tons of dry matter. It is important to note that the higher the plant density per ha, the more the yield for both fresh and dry matter increases. 3

10 Table 1: Production parameters of Moringa at rst cutting Plant density Plants/ha Fresh matter metric tons/ha Dry matter metric tons/ ha Source: Foidl et al. (2001) According to Foidl et al. (2001), a trial of 1 million plants per ha can yield as little as 45 metric tons per ha during the dry season while during the rainy season the yield per ha could be as high as 115 metric tons. Production volume for Moringa in South Africa is still a challenge due to very few farmers who produce the product commercially. It is estimated, however, that production does not exceed metric tons annually. 1.6 Moringa s uses Depicted in Figure 3 is the different uses of Moringa. It can be seen that almost every part (except for the trunk) of the tree can be consumed as food or feed. Cooking, cosmetic, and medicinal and industrial Moringa parts and their uses Oil Meal Minus oil Seeds Pods Roots Bark Leaves Stems Twigs Kernels Shells Dyes, tannins, medicinal Animal feed Minus Coagulants Fuel Growth factors Extracted meal Human consumption Medicinal uses Animal feed Water purification Figure 3: Uses of different parts of Moringa Source: Foidl et al. (2001) 4

11 1.6.1 Human consumption Moringa leaf powder is used as a 100% natural food supplement and can be consumed in different ways. The leaf powder can be mixed with juices or beverages using a teaspoon. One teaspoon of Moringa will provide a full range of nutrients required by the body. Moringa leaf powder can also be mixed with vegetables or soup that is prepared for consumption. In Africa, 25 g of Moringa powder is administered to pregnant women daily to improve prenatal nutrition (Diatta, 2001). Apart from plain leaf powder, Moringa powder is also sold in capsules. The daily intake is about two capsules a day (one capsule in the morning and one at lunch time). According to Marcu (2005), no negative effects from daily consumption of Moringa leaves and seeds have ever been reported. Marcu (2005) further indicated that Moringa has the following health bene ts: Reduces cholesterol levels and triglycerides ( bad fats); Controls blood sugar and helps normal sugar and energy balance; Offers vitamins and minerals vital for maintaining normal physiology and Offers powerful anti-aging and anti-in ammatory natural substances, many with anti-cancer properties. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach. The leaves are a good source of vitamins A, B, and C and minerals, particularly iron and sulphurcontaining amino acids. The immature green pods are widely consumed in India. They can be boiled and eaten like green beans and are rich in free leucine. The dry seeds can be ground to a powder and used for seasoning. The seed of the Moringa tree also provides oil that can be used as a vegetable cooking oil with many essential fatty acids. The oil is best used raw and not heated to prevent damaging the molecular structure of the fat. Apart from the oil, the seeds are eaten like peanuts, as is the case in Malaya (Duke, 1983). Flowers of Moringa can also be eaten raw in salads or cooked, or can be used to make tea Water puri cation The properties of the natural polypeptides produced from Moringa seeds have been employed with particular effectiveness in both Egypt and Sudan for cleaning water from the Nile, speci cally for human consumption (Foidl et al., 2001). Figure 4 shows the dried seeds of Moringa stenopetala which were used to purify unsafe water. By leaving the dried seeds in a bottle of unclean water overnight, between 90-95% of the bacteria can be puri ed (Goodwater, 2011). 5

12 Figure 4: Treating dirty water with Moringa stenopetala Source: Goodwater, 2011 Moringa seeds can therefore be used as detoxi er for dirty water especially in African countries where there is little clean running tap water. When Moringa seeds are mixed with dirty water, the seeds absorb all the impurities. In terms of requirements for cleaning the water, only one seed is required for 1 litre bottle for slightly contaminated water and two seeds for very dirty water Feeding of livestock A potential strategy for increasing the quality and availability of feeds for smallholder ruminant animals in the dry season may be through the use of fodder trees and shrub forages (Pezo, 1991). Most trees and shrubs are easily propagated and do not require high management inputs (fertiliser, pesticides, etc.) or advanced technology. One of these potential forage trees is Moringa. The leaves, stems and twigs all contain protein and can be used as a highly nutritious fodder for cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, etc. A study in Fiji reports signi cant weight gain over traditional fodder when 50% of fodder contained Moringa (Aregheore, 2002). However, excessive feeding of livestock with Moringa can result in weight loss. Animals given fodder with 80% Moringa in Fiji showed lower weight gain than animals with 50% Moringa fodder. Cows fed with Moringa leaves increased twinning births from 1:1000 to 3:20. Cows fed 3 kg of Moringa leaves per day produced 63% more milk than cows in a control group that didn t consume Moringa leaves (Moringa SA, 2011). 6

13 Figure 5: Moringa de-hulled seeds Source: Moringa Tree, Industrial uses Figure 5 shows de-hulled seeds (kernel) of Moringa which contain approximately 40% oil known as Ben oil. The oil is highly nutritious and has a fat composition similar to olive oil. The oil is used as a lubricant for watches and ne machinery such as timepieces, because it has a minimal tendency to deteriorate and become rancid and sticky (Ramachandran et al., 1980). Moringa oil is also used in the perfume industry for stabilising scents due to its capacity to absorb and retain volatile substances Other uses of Moringa Growth enhancer, in crop production, a foliar spray made from the leaves increases crop yields by up to 35 % (Moringa SA, 2011). Plantations for fodder production have achieved 78 tons/hectare on fresh leaves per cutting with 7-9 cuttings per year (climate dependent). Medicinal uses: the most direct medicinal use of the plant is a poultice of the leaves and bark applied directly to wounds as an anti-microbial and to promote healing. Studies conducted at Johns Hopkins University and elsewhere support the traditional use of Moringa to treat cancer (Fahey, 2005). Bwana-Simba (2006) listed traditional and contemporary uses of Moringa, which include wood, a blue dye used in Jamaica and Senegal, and wood pulp that is suitable for making newsprint and writing paper. Moringa leaves, stems and twigs are also an excellent source materials for biogas reactors. 7

14 1.7 Moringa s nutritional value Moringa has many added vitamins, mineral and amino acids that are needed by the body. According to Fuglie (1999), Moringa has many vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These vitamins include E, C, B3, B2, A and others. Minerals found in Moringa are potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. It is important to note that most of the essential nutrients are destroyed and damaged during cooking and processing. Therefore, in order to obtain maximum bene t from Moringa leaves, the leaves need to be dried into leaf powder or it must be eaten raw Nutritional comparisons of Moringa Figure 6 shows dried Moringa leaf powder. There is signi cantly higher nutritional value in the Moringa dried leaf powder, in some cases over ten times in speci c nutrients when compared to fresh Moringa leaves. Many international and national university and independent research laboratory analyses have con rmed the higher nutritional values in the dried leaf powder. The nutritional value of Moringa s many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, chlorophyll, and antiaging compounds are higher in the dried leaf than the fresh leaves, which is why the leaves are preferred to be dried. Figure 6: Moringa leaf powder Source: GFU,

15 As shown in Table 2, dried Moringa leaves contains more vitamin A than the vitamin found in carrots and in fresh leaves of Moringa. Dried leaves further have more calcium than calcium found in milk and in fresh leaves, have more potassium than the potassium found in fresh leaves and bananas, have more protein than protein found in yoghurt and fresh leaves. However, fresh leaves have more vitamin C than vitamin C found in oranges and in dried leaves. According to Fuglie (2000), no side-effects have yet been found from daily consumption of Moringa leaf powder. Table 2: Nutrient comparison per 100 grams Nutrients Common food Fresh leaves Dried leaves Vitamin A Carrots 1.8 mg 6.8 mg 18.9 mg Calcium Milk 120 mg 440 mg 2003 mg Potassium Bananas 88 mg 259 mg 1324 mg Protein Yoghurt 3.1 g 6.7g 27.1 g Vitamin C Oranges 30 mg 220mg 17 mg Source: Fuglie, Moringa pods or the fruits The pods or the fruits of Moringa are initially light green, slim and tender, eventually becoming dark green and rm and grow up to 120cm long as shown in Figure 7. Pods have a different nutritional value compared to leaves and leaf powder. In most cases they have fewer nutrients. Figure 7. Moringa pods (fruits) Source: Moringa tree,

16 1.7.3 International trade of Moringa Commercial production of immature pods for processing is large in India, with about 1.3 million metric tons produced on ha. In South Africa, there are few companies that trade with Moringa seeds and data on import and export is a challenge for comparisons with other countries. South African traders import the seeds from India and sell them locally to producers (Moringa SA, 2011). However, some South African producers export Moringa seedlings to countries such as Botswana and Namibia. SECTION 2 LAMMANGATA MORINGA OLEIFERA CASE STUDY Moringa oleifera - an indigenous tree of India gives life and hope to the rural communities of Limpopo Province 2.1 The Lammangata Moringa project The Lammangata Moringa project is a subsidiary of Sedikong sa Lerato, a drop-in centre that feeds 347 children, including 87 children who are orphans. The project is situated about 15km from Lebowakgomo, in Tooseng village Ga-Mphahlele in the Limpopo Province. The project is managed by Ms Mavis Mathabatha who was born in 1960 and is a quali ed professional teacher. Ms Mathabatha is a successful producer of the Moringa oleifera tree and is the rst women farmer to plant Moringa oleifera in Limpopo Province. The 52 year-old farmer is the Director and the founder of Lammangata Moringa project. The project specialises in the production of Moringa oleifera tree or what many African countries call it the Miracle Tree due to the remarkable nutritional bene ts derived from the Moringa leaves. The project started in September 2006, when the rst Moringa trees were planted, and was of cially launched in 2009 in partnership with a charity organisation called Star sh Greathearts Foundation. Before we started, malnutrition was prevalent among the children but since we started to add Moringa dried leaf powder to the children s food, we have seen remarkable results. The children are no longer showing signs of malnutrition says Ms Mathabatha. According to Ms Mathabatha, Moringa leaf powder has helped to reduce malnutrition among the 350 children in her community and the leaf powder further helps to boost the immune system and control chronic diseases. She continues, With 10

17 Moringa oleifera leaf powder, households have no need to purchase arti cial manufactured food supplements, as Moringa oleifera is organically produced in the project. According to Ms Mathabatha, Moringa dried leaf power has remarkable nutritional bene ts such as vitamins and minerals content which far surpasses carrots, spinach, bananas and oranges combined. The leaves also contain more protein and calcium than milk and have all nine essential amino acids, explains Ms Mathabatha. Ms Mathabatha farms on 0.5 ha and produces, processes and packages Moringa leaf powder to supply local communities. Moringa leaf powder is sold in Pretoria and Johannesburg and further exported to Botswana and Namibia. According to Ms Mathabatha, annually the project distributes an estimated 1.5 metric tons of Moringa leaf powder. During the 2008 and 2009 production year, the project distributed between and free seedlings to the communities through the assistance of Southern African Trust funding. The project has 6 eld workers who take care of the Moringa trees and other vegetables such as spinach, cabbages and beetroot grown on the other side of the farm. 2.2 Achievement Ms Mathabatha received the National Top Commercial Processor Award in 2010 from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and was named overall winner of the 2010 DAFF National Female Entrepreneur of the year. The award was to honour outstanding commitment in community development projects. As a result, Ms Mathabatha received R from DAFF and according to DAFF, the award s main objective is to reward contributions made by women in matters of food security through small-scale and commercial production. Apart from the South African 2010 National Entrepreneur of the year, Ms Mathabatha also received the Black Farmers Workshop and Expo Award for excellence in farming. She also received an agro-processing machine from Drosky company in 2011 as a token of appreciation for a job well done in the community (see text box 1). 2.3 Her philosophy Ms Mathabatha believes that the establishment of any community project must be from within. There should be something that you want to give back to the people you live with, explains Ms Mathabatha. A teacher by profession, Ms Mathabatha says planting Moringa was not very dif cult as she found much useful information on the internet. The information I found on the internet about 11

18 Text Box 1. Ms Mathabatha displaying her awards: Provincial Female Entrepreneur of the year 2010, National Top Commercial Processor of the year 2010, National Female Entrepreneur of the year 2010 and Black Farmers Workshop and Expo Award for excellence in farming. Ms Mathabatha also received an S4 agro-processing machine donated by Drosky company in Moringa was amazing and I couldn t believe what I saw, says Mrs Mathabatha. Her passion now is to continue helping communities to establish Moringa plantations in all nine provinces of South Africa. 2.4 The project beginnings In the beginning, Ms Mathabatha planted vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes, spinach and butternuts on a piece of land for feeding school children and orphans. According to Ms Mathabatha, malnutrition was prevalent among the children. She adds that feeding the children with vegetables was good but the children did not recover quickly as compared to feeding them for seven days with Moringa leaf powder. Her prayer was answered when she received a call from a friend Ms McClintock, a nurse by profession who runs a hospice. According to Ms Mathabatha, Ms McClinton saw Moringa on Malawian TV in December 2005 and she then helped her to order Moringa oleifera seeds. This is how Ms Mathabatha started to produce Moringa oleifera and the rst trees were planted in September Most people in Tooseng are dependent on social grants and investigations showed that some families go to bed without food in this community explains Ms Mathabatha. Many people could not afford to buy spinach, carrots or meat for their daily meal. This had a signi cant impact on the nutritional status of 12

19 the community. Moringa oleifera has changed many people s health status and among the children, says Ms Mathabatha. Testimonies of Moringa are plenty in Tooseng village. According to the principal of Kgodiamoleke Primary School, children used to faint in the class and others showed signs in their faces that they had not eaten but since the introduction of the Moringa, the situation has changed. According to Ms Maruma, a worker at the project, If I eat Moringa I have more power to work, so Moringa gives me energy. 2.5 A learning curve Ms Mathabatha says farming with Moringa has opened her mind to research as there is no institution in South Africa that offer short courses in the production of Moringa tree. Asked how she controls diseases and problems relating to the Moringa tree, she said she has not yet experienced diseases that affect the trees but she will continue to search for information so that she could empower herself for tomorrow s bene t. Ms Mathabatha has trained eld workers on how to prepare soil, plant, prune and maintain the trees. She received training on agro-processing of Moringa from Drosky, the company that manufactures and markets agricultural processing machinery. According to Ms Mathabatha, she wishes to attend training in all business-related subjects. This is because her intention is to produce Moringa commercially and to serve all the available marketing channels. She further wishes to explore the agro-processing of Moringa by visiting India. 2.6 Institutions involved in the project Production of Moringa oleifera has attracted many institutions due to its remarkable nutritional bene ts and the fact that the Moringa oleifera tree can be grown in poorer soils. In South Africa, the institutions involved in the Moringa project are the Universities of Wits and Fort Hare, which contributed towards the establishment of the nutritional status of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and owers. According to Ms Mathabatha, the results of the studies were found to be similar from both institutions and similar to studies conducted by international institutions. Through the Department of Science and Technology, the Medical Research Council of South Africa, the Council for Scienti c and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) are also conducting extensive analysis of the Moringa oleifera tree. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is currently conducting a second analysis of Moringa oleifera leaf powder to see if it could be safely consumed and traded in formal markets. The SABS has released its rst nutritional analysis which was found to be similar with the 13

20 analysis conducted by other institutions. It is hoped that upon the conclusion of all the analysis, the project will be awarded a certi cate as a license to trade Moringa oleifera leaf powder in formal markets, says Ms Mathabatha. 14 Figure 8: Packed Moringa oleifera leaf powder Source: Lammangata, 2011 The Lammangata Moringa project has also been assisted by Pick n Pay. The retailer has assisted with garden utensils such as spades, forks and uniforms for workers. In 2011, Pick n Pay assisted with 220 bags of organic compost to ensure that the project continues with its organic production of Moringa oleifera trees. 2.7 Marketing strategy The project uses its own brand, namely Lammangata Moringa, to market the leaf powder, as depicted in Figure 8. The leaf powder is the principal product for the project and accounts for 80% of the project earnings, while seedling sales account for the remaining 20%. The leaf powder is not yet certi ed by the SABS so that it can be marketed on formal marketing channels and also not yet endorsed by the Department of Health. As a result, the distribution of the product is currently limited to the informal market. There are promising positive signs, however, that Moringa oleifera leaf powder will be found in the big retail stores very soon, when the second round of audits are completed by the SABS. The demand for Moringa oleifera leaf powder continues to grow in Limpopo due to continued awareness campaigns conducted by Ms Mathabatha. The campaigns are held in the project of ces and all members of the communities including traditional leaders, healers, government departments and municipalities are invited to the sessions. Ms Mathabatha is also invited to Radio stations to give her life experience and testimonies regarding Moringa oleifera. It was through Radio stations that many people started to know about Moringa oleifera and its nutritional bene ts.

21 2.8 Product pricing As shown in Table 3, Moringa oleifera leaf powder costs R70.00 for 40g pack and a 1 kg pack of Moringa oleifera leaf powder is sold for R The project markets Moringa oleifera seedlings at a cost of R70.00 each. In terms of product and pricing comparisons with its competitor Patience Wellness Centre near Lebowakgomo, The Lammangata Moringa is price competitive since the competitor charges R60.00 for 25g of Moringa leaf powder. The competitor s price however does not affect the Lammangata project because there is high demand for Moringa oleifera leaf powder and Lammangata was formed to help the community. Table 3: Moringa oleifera Product Prices 40 g Moringa leaf powder R kg Moringa leaf powder R Moringa oleifera seedling R Production strategy Ms Mathabatha produces Moringa oleifera trees, which according to her produce the best leaves for making powder. According to Ms Mathabatha, the reasons behind her choice of Moringa oleifera was based on a community needs assessment. That is, improvement of healthy living among the children as they had problems of malnutrition. Lammangata Moringa has been allocated 15 ha near Tooseng village, which has been de-bushed and fenced for the production of Moringa oleifera trees. The project has further been allocated 25 ha in Badfontein, and according to Ms Mathabatha the strategy is to have 5 ha under agro-processing and 20 ha will be dedicated for massive production of Moringa oleifera leaf powder production Diversi cation strategy The Lammangata Moringa project primarily produces Moringa oleifera trees for making leaf powder. Ms Mathabatha markets the leaf powder on the informal markets. Apart from the production of Moringa oleifera, the project also produces spinach, cabbage and beetroot. These cash crops add a little cash ow to the project and keep the project active during the times when Moringa oleifera leaf powder is not in production, that is during June and August when the trees have been pruned. 15

22 2.11 Cost strategy Ms Mathabatha recognises the importance of managing input cost for the success of the project. For this reason, Ms Mathabatha has a few trees that produce seeds for multiplication purposes. The project does not purchase seeds from the suppliers and this helps the project to manage costs effectively. The project purchases organic compost from suppliers in Polokwane, which is 87 km from the project. According to Ms Mathabatha, the distance is a bit of a challenge. To help reduce the costs, the project purchases inputs in bulk, and according to Ms Mathabatha such inputs last for the entire year. The project has good relation with input suppliers as they sell organic compost at a reasonable price. For the production of seedlings, kraal manure mixed with organic compost and soil is also used, which reduces the cost of purchasing organic inputs. Figure 9: Breakdown of input costs Source: The Lammangata, 2011 Figure 9 shows a breakdown of input costs that Ms Mathabatha has to deal with. The highest input expenditure according to Ms Mathabatha is labour, which accounts for 50% of the project s operations. This is because Moringa oleifera is labour intensive and labour is currently used in grinding the leaf powder manually. However, at the time of the interview the project had a new agro-processing machine which will be used in the next production season. The second highest cost item is packaging materials, which account for 20% of the total operating costs. Fuel accounts for 15%, organic compost accounts for 10%, while marketing and electricity account for 5% combined. 16

23 3. General challenges of Moringa production There are more than 100 published papers on Moringa. However the majority of the analyses focus more on the nutrient content or laboratory tests. Further, the effectiveness of Moringa leaf powder on human subjects in the long term is not yet randomised, which makes UNICEF, WHO and WFP not to promote it. Moringa is not yet accepted for use by national and international nutrition programmes. This is because additional studies are needed to con rm its effectiveness and safety. Even though studies have found that Moringa leaf powder is practically non-toxic according to the classi cation of relative toxicity of chemical substances, this does not rule out negative effects of consumption by malnourished infants nor does it assess the bioavailability of many nutrients contained. Production of the Moringa tree in South African is still at an infant stage and there are very few producers. Producers are further not organised into a commodity group and therefore development in this industry will be dif cult as producers are scattered around the country. Seeds and seedling for production purposes are dif cult to obtain. Producers use traders and agents to import the seeds either from African countries such as Kenya or from other countries such as India. This will make it dif cult for the upcoming entrepreneurs who would like to enter the market. 4. Conclusion and recommendations Moringa is one of the best plants the world has ever produced. It contains vitamins, proteins, minerals and essential amino acids needed for healthy living. However, the plant is not known by many consumers and governmental institutions. Therefore, promotion of the product and its bene ts for human consumption will be important for the poorer communities in South Africa where malnutrition is prevalent. Continual research encompassing analysis is needed in many countries where Moringa is produced. This will assist in increasing knowledge of Moringa and in answering randomisation requests as stated by UNICEF, WHO and WFP. The demand for Moringa leaf powder outstrips supply in South Africa and prices of Moringa leaf powder are high. For this reason, more producers are required for the production of Moringa to feed the nation with this nutritional plant. This can only be done through promotion of Moringa products and the bene ts that are derived from consumption of Moringa leaf powder. 17

24 Moringa can further be used as an alternative crop for bio-fuel production. The crop can be grown in any marginal soil and it contains oil which can be used for bio-fuel production. Therefore, promotion of Moringa for industrial use can help to solve problems relating to food security, where fertile soil could only be used for crops such as maize and sun ower and marginal soils be used for Moringa production. Organising producers into commodity groups will be important for the South African Moringa producers. A legal commodity group will further help producers to co-ordinate their efforts, activities and to ensure that their industry is recognised. At the same time, it will ensure that products are of the same standards. A producer organisation will further help other developmental institutions such as government and research to understand the industry. These institutions will in turn assist the producer organization with tailored made solutions for Moringa production. Consumption of 2-3 spoons of Moringa leaf powder per day is enough to stay healthy 18

25 5. References Aregheore, E.M. (2002). Intake and digestibility of Moringa oleifera batiki grass mixtures by growing goats. Small Ruminant Research, 46: Bwana-Simba, E. (2006). The Various Uses of Moringa oleifera. Available at: (Accessed 26 October 2011). Diatta, S. (2001) Supplementation for pregnant and breast-feeding women with Moringa oleifera powder. In: Developmental potential for Moringa products. Workshop proceedings. October 29 November 2, 2001, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Duke, J. A. (1983). Handbook of energy crops (Moringa oleifera). Center for New Crops and Plant Products, Purdue University, Indiana, US. ECHO, (2007). The Moringa Tree, Moringa oleifera. Educational Concern for Hunger Organization, Technical Note. USA. Available at: org/ les_pdf/moringa.pdf (Accessed 26 October 2011). Fahey, J,W. (2005). Moringa oleifera. The review of medicinal evidence for its nutritional, Therapeutic and prophylactic properties. Part1 Trees for Life Journal, 1:5. Foidl. N., Makkar, H.P.S., and Becker, K. (2001). The potential of Moringa oleifera for agricultural and industrial uses. Fuglie, L.J. (1999). The Miracle Tree: Moringa oleifera, Natural Nutrition for the Tropics. Church World Service, Dakkar. Available at: co.za/analysis.html (Accessed on 13 October 2011). Fuglie, L.J. (2000). New Uses of Moringa Studied in Nicaragua. ECHO Development Notes #68. Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO), North Fort Myers, Fla. GFU, (2008). Standardisation and legislation of Moringa leaf powder trade in Ghana. Feature March available at features/moringa/moringa.pdf (Accessed 26 October 2011). 19

26 Good water. (2011). Good water, every drops helps. Available at: goodwaterfund.org /index.html (Accessed 25 October 2011). Jahn, S.A.A. (1988). Using Moringa tree as a coagulants in developing countries. J.A.M. Water Works Association. 80: Marcu, M.G. (2005). Miracle Tree KOS Health Publication, 466 Foothill Blvd. #251, La Canada, CA Moringa SA. (2011). A Resource for Farmers, Plantations, Industry and BioFuel Companies. Available at: (Accessed on 4 August 2011) Moringa Tree. (2011). Moringa seeds. html (Accessed on 5 August 2011). Odee, D. (1998). Forest biotechnology research in drylands of Kenya: the development of Moringa species. Dryland Biodiversity 2, 7 8. Pezo, D. (1991) La calidad nutritiva de los forrajes. Produccion y utilizacion de forrajes en el tropico. Compendio. Serie Materiales de Ensenanza numero15. Ramachandran, C., Peter, K.V. and Gopalakrishnan, P.K. (1980). Drumstick (Moringa oleifera): A multipurpose Indian vegetable. Economic Botany 34, Disclaimer: Information contained in this document results from research funded wholly or in part by the NAMC acting in good faith. Opinions, attitudes and points of view expressed herein do not necessarily re ect the of cial position or policies of the NAMC. The NAMC makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this document and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions regarding the content thereof. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of noninfringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, tness for a particular purpose or freedom from computer virus is given with respect to the contents of this document in hardcopy, electronic format or electronic links thereto. Reference made to any speci c product, process, and service by trade name, trade mark, manufacturer or another commercial commodity or entity are for informational purposes only and do not constitute or imply approval, endorsement or favouring by the NAMC. 20

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28 For more information contact: National Agricultural Marketing Council Block A 4th Floor Meintjiesplein Building 536 Schoeman Street Arcadia Pretoria 0002 Private Bag X935 Pretoria