Moringa

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 on this page 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 (listed below) 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.

For the newcomer
National strategy and government contact
Other role players
Websites and publications

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.co.za provides contact details for the following institutions: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI); 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. One of the deliverables was a moringa processing plant (along with chicken abattoir and vegetable packhouse).
• Moringa featured in the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology’s Bio-economy Strategy. See www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/bioeconomy-strategya.pdf.

 

Other role players

 

Associations involved

• Moringa Development Association of South Africa (MDASA) www.mdasa.co.za

 

Training and research

• Often with notes on the research being conducted, the website http://www.mdasa.co.za/ provides 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, www.mdasa.co.za provides 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

• African Scientific Technologies www.afriscientific.co.za Small tea bag and granule packaging machine
• Afrinest Farm Projects https://afrinestfarm.co.za 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 www.biotechsa.net Oilseed screw press and other processing equipment
• Druid’s Garden https://druids.garden Moringa capsules, tinctures and other products
• KayT’s 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 “SimplyNutri”,  formulated for fatigue management
• Lefakong Farming www.lefakongfarming.com moringa products
• Luhlaza-ISS www.facebook.com/LuhlazaISS Authors of the 2019 IDC Moringa study (see next heading)
• Makhunda Capital Regeneration http://makundacapital.co.za
• 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 http://moringacare.co.za Moringa products
• Moringa Fields Tel: 082 979 5091
• Moringa Life www.moringa-life.co.za
• Moringa World https://moringaworld.co.za
• Moyo Moringa www.moyomoringa.com
• Muthi Futhi Trust www.muthifuthi.co.za It specialises “in the cultivation and processing of African medicinal plants, and the production of traditional medicinal products”
• NTL Baraka Eco-Farming www.facebook.com/ntlbarakaecofarming/ 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.
• Phedisanang Co-operative Tel: 083 435 1582 A 20 hectare farm where 5000 Moringa plants have been grown.
• Seriti Institute www.seriti.org.za
• SUPA NUTRI http://supanutri.co.za/ An online store for moringa-based products
• The Moringa Tree www.themoringatree.co.za
• Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute https://umgibe.org

 

 

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
• 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

• Chaney T. 2022, January 10. “5 Health Benefits of Moringa Supported by Science”. EcoWatch. Available at www.ecowatch.com/moringa-health-benefits.html
• Refer to the NAMC Agripreneur Issue 25 (June 2021) for the article “Makhunda Capital Regeneration: Making a living out of a tree of life”. Read the publication at www.namc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/June-Issue-25.pdf
• Wilson D. 2020, January 2. “What makes moringa good for you?” Medical News Today. Available at www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916
• Waterman C. 2017, October 1. “The Moringa tree enters the arsenal of treatments against chronic diseases “. The Conversation. Available at https://theconversation.com/the-moringa-tree-enters-the-arsenal-of-treatments-against-chronic-diseases-84475
• 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