Moringa to support Kenyan farmers health & wealth

INTRODUCTION

We hope this report finds all of us well. Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC) wish to share our progress report on Moringa to support Kenyan farmers healthy and wealth. We have continued to focus on our main objectives of environmental regeneration, community regeneration and economic development which so far we have made tremendous progress. The trees we have been planting since 2007 continue to form canopies creating micro climates, building soils thus improving soil health, water infiltration, and revegetation and carbon sequestration in the area. The community continue to be more united and organised thus improving their ability to work as a community.  Most trees ranging from fruit trees, timber trees, conservation trees and fodder trees have matured and farmers are able to benefit from either fruits, timber products, animal food, biodiversity among other benefits.  

Over the years, Moringa oleifera is one of the agro-forest trees we have been growing. Most trees have grown to maturity and farmers are able to harvest both seeds and leaves. So far, DNRC has been aggregating moringa seeds from the farmers and export to international market for income both for the farmers and DNRC. Apart from selling moringa leaves to DNRC to process moringa powder, farmers also make their own moringa leaves powder for consumption for nutritional supplements. Moringa is known to contain vitamins, proteins minerals, antioxidant among others.

During this reporting quarter, we were involved in sourcing moringa seeds from farmers for the continuing international market and also processing moringa leave powder. Below are detailed activities during the reporting quarter.

MORINGA SEEDLINGS PROPAGATION

During this reporting quarter, DNRC staff have been busy propagating moringa seedlings to be planted during October-December rains

MORINGA SEEDS SOURCING

During the reporting quarter, we were able to source/aggregate, weigh and pay farmers moringa seeds for the 2,000 kg for sale.

MORINGA POWDER PROCESSING

During the reporting quarter, the staff were involved in receiving, weighing and paying for moringa leaves from farmers which were then dried and processed into moringa power.

CHALLENGES

Major challenge which has been perennial is water shortage because we rely on seasonal river  

FOCUS FOR NEXT QUARTER

• To mobilize farmers to grow more moringa trees in the coming rain season.
• To continue collecting more moringa seeds for sale for income