Moringa to support Kenyan farmers health & wealth

INTRODUCTION

Christmas greetings from Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC). We are happy to share with us our quarterly report for Moringa to support Kenyan farmers healthy and wealth. Despite Covid -19 challenges, we have remained focused on our goals of environmental regeneration, economic development as well as community regeneration. Every day we continue to get closer to these goals. The trees we have been planting since 2007 continue to increase in size thus increasing the microclimate climate in our community thus regenerating the environment. Our community continue with their activities such as trainings, planting together in solidarity as well as participating in farmers Bi-annual events. These activities are building the community oneness. In our tree nursery, Moringa is amongst the diverse trees we have been planting since inception of the project and now it has become a source of income for both DNRC and the farmers which is a key pillar to our economic development goal.

During this reporting quarter, we have been sourcing about 2500kgs of moringa seeds for our continuing international moringa seed order. After sourcing DNRC staff were involved in drying and defethering the moringa seeds then delivering for oil pressing. DNRC team also continued to propagate more moringa seedlings, managing and maintaining them then in the nursery and issuing the seedlings during the rainy season. Below is more detailed activities during this reporting quarter.

SOURCING OF MORINGA SEEDS FROM SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

During this reporting quarter, our staff were busy sourcing about 2500kg of moringa seeds. After sourcing, the farmers were paid their kgs of moringa seeds which was defeathered by our staff and delivered for oil pressing at Athi River.

PROPAGATING MORE MORINGA SEEDLINGS

As moringa products market continue to grow, we encourage farmers to plant more moringa trees so they can meet the growing market for both seeds and leaves. So we propagated 3020 moringa seedlings which were issued to our farmers during this October-December rains.

ISSUANCE OF THE MORINGA SEEDLINGS

During this reporting quarter, moringa seedlings was issued together with the other seedlings. The rains were late this year and the seedlings had to stay in the nursery till rains onset which was early December compared to early November in the other years. Over 2800 moringa seedlings were issued to the farmers during this rain season.

 CHALLENGES

Water continue to be our main challenge as we rely on season river which in most cases dries up and we have to scoop the sand to get water.

 FOCUS FOR NEXT QUARTER  

• Do farmer follows ups for the planted moringa seedlings.
• Propagated moringa seedlings for March – April rain season gapping.

Links:

• DNRC website