Moringa to support Kenyan farmers health & wealth

INTRODUCTION

We hope this progress report finds all of us well and safe. We share this report when Covid pandemic has slowed our activities including this Moringa project. Our farmers’ group training were suspended and resulted to individual farmers training as group meetings were banned in the country due to Covid. This has slowed down the number of farmers we train on Moringa production unlike when we trained them in groups. Due to Covid, we cancelled local and international visitors and also regular residential trainings which both brought income for supplemental funding for the organization. This equally slowed down our activities. Lockdown and curfews in the country also slowed our seed sourcing for an order for moringa seeds which we have just resumed after transport was eased after curfews were lifted and transport resumed in the Country. The flipside of this is Corona pandemic has positively affected our sales of Moringa power due to increased demand. We were able to increase Moringa powder sales by about 30% locally as more people learnt about its ability to boost our immunity and therefore a mitigation measure against Covid. Given this unfolding new normal, we concentrated our activities during this last quarter on moringa seedlings propagation for October-November rains, processing more moringa powder due to slight increase in moringa power local market and also sourcing moringa seeds for the running order.

Below are detailed activities during the reporting quarter

MORINGA POWDER PROCESSING

During the reporting quarter, we processed 30 kgs of moringa powder and we continue to sale locally as more local people are using moringa for its nutritional supplement during this Covid out-break.

MORINGA SEEDS SOURCING

This activity has been drastically affected due to the health measures put to minimise the spread of Covid. With meetings banned in the country, lockdown and curfews, we have not been able to meet our target of 1000 kgs on moringa seeds. However, with the current ease on this measures, we have managed to source 400kgs of moringa seeds and we shall continue sourcing to meet our target.

 FOLLOW UPS AND TRAININGS

Since no meetings allowed, during this reporting quarter, we could only do follow ups on individual farms and advise them according to their prevailing challenges. We were able to visit and on farm train about 80 farmers. The individual farmers were trained on farm management of moringa trees planted and preparing more holes to expand moringa trees.

CHALLENGES

• Covid health regulations limiting no. of farmers reached in terms of training and sourcing seeds activity
• Reduced financial support due to reduced income generating activities as a result of Covid

FOCUS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER

• Continue drying more moringa leaves and processing to powder
• Continue sourcing more moringa seeds
• Do follow ups on management of the moringa trees with individual farmers.
• Propagation of more moringa seedlings for planting in November-December rains