Photo above used courtesy of Errol Moloto
- The moringa tree has its origins in the northern regions of India. In Africa, two types are grown, moringa oleifera and moringa stenopetala (Lekgau, undated). The moringa tree is considered one of the most nutritious trees in the world since it has vitamins, minerals and amino acids which the human body requires for health.
- The leaves can be used to make moringa juice or tea. They can also be cooked like spinach, or dried and processed into moringa powder. The powder has many uses which include being used as a nutritional additive in soup, porridge and drinks.
- The seeds can be used to produce seedlings, processed into moringa oil (called Ben oil) and in certain communities, to purify water.
- In addition to human consumption, it can be used to feed livestock, and has industrial uses which includes a biofuel.
- Several projects listed in this chapter came about as a way to stimulate rural development and to address malnutrition. Farming with moringa is a way to create economic activity and jobs. A look through company websites like www.moringa5000.co.za, www.moringaplussa.org and www.kombuchagreentea.co.za will illustrate many of the different products, while the various articles and other sources will introduce the reader to its adaption as a crop, while noting the reported medicinal benefits and nutritious value.
Moringa tree. Photo used courtesy of Errol Moloto. |
Contents
For the newcomer
The NAMC document (Lekgau, n.d. – see “Websites & publications” heading) includes notes on cultivation. The Lammangata Moringa project case study in the second section is also valuable as it sets out the growth path and fruition of a moringa enterprise.
National strategy and government contact
- Along with notes on their involvement, the website www.mdasa.org/projects provides contact details for the following institutions: Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology (DST); Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD); Department of Education; Department of Health; Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Gauteng Department of Economic Growth and Development.
- The Industrial Action Policy Plans (IPAPs) made provision for the establishment of a pilot agri-business hub (find the document on www.thedti.gov.za). One of the deliverables was a moringa processing plant (along with chicken abattoir and vegetable packhouse).
- Moringa features in the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology’s Bio-economy Strategy.
Other role players
Associations involved
- Moringa Development Association of South Africa (MDASA) Tel: 012 382 5720 renemunya [at] mdasa.org and www.mdasa.org [website not working November 2019]
Training and research
- Often with notes on the research being conducted, the websites [both problematic 12 March 2020] www.mdasa.org/projects and www.ism2019.co.za provide contact details for the following institutions: University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Fort Hare, University of Limpopo, University of North West (Mafikeng campus), Tshwane University of Technology, University of South Africa and Stellenbosch University.
Parastatals and semi-government organisations
- Often with notes on the support offered, the websites www.mdasa.org/projects and www.ism2019.co.za/interesting_links.html [both problematic 12 March 2020] provide contact details for the following institutions: Agriculture Research Council (ARC), The Innovation Hub, Egolibio, SEDA, Technology Innovative Agency (TIA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Military Health Services.
Entrepreneurs and other role players
- Afrinest Farm Projects Mr Rene’ Munya renemunya [at] gmail.com An initiative under the name of MORCASSAH (Moringa, Cassava and Honey) in the Tzaneen, Mopani district area, is run with over 20 emerging farmers and some 350 000 trees.
- BioTech Tel: 082 783 9402 www.biotechsa.net/moringa Oilseed screw press and other processing equipment
- Druid’s Garden https://druids.garden Moringa capsules, tinctures and other products
- Garuda Naturals Tel: 012 348 0775 http://garudanaturals.co.zaMoringa products
- KayT’s Tel: 015 293 1133 www.kombuchagreentea.co.za A company making Moringa tea. Find the story “Green tea entrepreneur helps revive local economy” (2016, September) at www.SANews.gov.za.
- LAMP Innovations Tel: 083 709 6938 http://lampinnovations.com “SimplyNutri”, formulated for fatigue management
- Lefakong Farming www.lefakongfarming.com moringa products
- MediOrga Farmers Tel: 082 515 3066 mediorgafarmers [at] @gmail.com
- Moloto, Errol Tel: 083 382 1409 errol.moloto [at] gmail.com
- Moringa 4 Africa Tel: 031 903 1181
- Moringa 5000 www.moringa5000.co.za Find the Lloyd Phillips (Farmer’s Weekly) story under the “Websites & publications” heading about this enterprise.
- Moringa + Tel: 079 553 7348 Moringa products
- Moringa Care Tel: 082 654 4376 http://moringacare.co.za Moringa products
- Moringa Life Tel: 062 424 9034 www.moringa-life.co.za
- SUPA NUTRI Tel: 076 142 1763 http://supanutri.co.za/ An online store for moringa-based products
- Moyo Moringa Tel: 082 416 5878
- NTL Baraka Eco-Farming Nomsa Ngwenya – 079 849 8797 www.ntlbarakaeco-farming.co.za Find the story “Nomsa Ngwenya on NTL Baraka Eco-Farming and Tourism Project” on YouTube. Nomsa Ngwenya’s enterprise is also covered in “The ‘miracle tree’ unveiled in Tzaneen” at www.bulletin.us.com.
- Patience Wellness Centre Tel: 015 632 4434 www.moringa4000years.co.za Moringa products
- Phedisanang Co-operative Ernest Tshavhuyo etshavhuyo [at] gmail.com A 20 hectare farm where 5000 Moringa plants have been grown.
- Sedikong Organic Farming Cooperation Mavis Mathabatha – 072 363 0885 Info [at] sedikongorganicfarming.co.za or mogasie [at] gmail.com Find two reports on this co-operative: “Moringa farmer scoops a first” [AgriECO] and “Soup made from miracle Moringa Tree to curb malnutrition in schools” [Barloworld] under the “Websites & publications” heading. It is also used as a case study in the NAMC document.
- Seriti Institute Tel: 011 262 7700 www.seriti.org.za
- The Moringa Tree Tel: 086 696 4813 www.themoringatree.co.za
- Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute https://umgibe.org
- Winterfeldt Moringa Farmer’s Co-operative Mr Philip Kgosana, pakgosana [at] lantic.net This farmer group currently has 34 000 trees and is rapidly expanding.
Websites and publications
- Luhlaza. 2019. Growing and Agro-Processing of Moringa Oleifera with Commercial Potential in South Africa. Available at www.idc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Luhlaza-ISS_Moringa-Research-Study_Final-Report.pdf
- International Symposium on Moringa (ISM) 2019 www.ism2019.co.za
- Find moringa under Traditional Crops at www.fao.org/traditional-crops/en.
- Find the document Medicinal Plants of South Africa, compiled by the Directorate Plant Production at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural among the brochures under “Resource Centre” at www.dalrrd.gov.za. The document “is a guide to the most commonly utilised medicinal plants in South Africa”. Moringa is one of the plants discussed.
- Sujatha, B.K. & Patel, P. 2017. Moringa Oleifera – Nature’s Gold. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 3(5). Available at www.onlinejournal.in/IJIRV3I5/195.pdf
- Mabapa, M.P., Ayisi, K.K., Mariqa, I.R. et al. 2017. Production and Utilization of Moringa by Farmers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Science Alert. Available at https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=ijar.2017.160.171
- Lekgau, S. Undated. “Moringa Oleifa A Tree Giving Life to Rural Communities”. Pretoria: National Agricultural Marketing Council. Available at https://docplayer.net/25487345-Moringa-oleifera-a-tree-giving-life-to-rural-communities.html
- Find the “Presentation on Lammangata Moringa: The seed of community wellness” by Sedikong sa Lerato at www.slideshare.net/simguybar/lammangata-moringa-the-seed-of-community-wellness.
- Find the document “Growing and processing moringa leaves” by the Moringa Association of Ghana at www.moringanews.org/documents/moringawebEN.pdf
- Find videos like “The Amazing Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera” and “Discovery Channel – Moringa Oleifera“on YouTube.
Some articles
- Barloworld. (2017, June 2). “Soup made from miracle Moringa Tree to curb malnutrition in schools”. Available at www.barloworld.com/news/press-releases/news_article.php?articleID=4992
- Minors, D. (2017, January 24).”Extracting maximum value from the Moringa plant”. University of the Witswatersrand. Available at www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2017/2017-01/extracting-maximum-value-from-the-moringa-plant.html
- Mercola, J. (2015, September 19). “The Many Uses of the Mighty Moringa Tree”. Wake Up World. Available at https://wakeup-world.com/2015/09/19/the-many-uses-of-the-mighty-moringa-tree/
- Phillips, L. (2014, June 24). “Moringa: superfood for the hungry”. Farmer’s Weekly. Available at www.farmersweekly.co.za/crops/field-crops/moringa-superfood-for-the-hungry/
- AgriECO. (2013, Septemeber 11). “Moringa farmer scoops a first”. Available at www.agrieco.net/article.aspx?id=843



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