Moringa to support Kenyan farmers health & wealth

INTRODUCTION

Greetings from Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC). We are once again pleased to share with us our progress report on Moringa to support Kenyan Farmers Healthy and wealthy. DNRC has continued to work towards achieving her vision of sustainable and resilient communities in the drylands by employing permaculture and Agro ecology best practices. Through these holistic approaches of permaculture and agro ecology, moringa tree has found its niche due to the many benefits both economical, ecological and social. Moringa leaves both fresh and in powder are known for their health benefits including but not limited to: lowering blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, protecting the liver, rich in antioxidants, fighting inflammation among others. The seeds are known for body oil production as well as water purifier among other benefits.  These benefits have attracted many households to continuously use moringa leaves and they have confessed high health improvements especially those with underlying healthy conditions. Apart from using moringa for their health benefits, DNRC and her farmers have continued to sale both moringa leaves powder and seeds for moringa oil for income.

During this reporting period, DNRC staff were busy sourcing moringa seeds to fulfil international order for 1000 kg of moringa seeds. The staff were also involved in processing moringa leaves for leave powder for domestic use and for sale for income. Lastly DNRC staff were busy in propagating more moringa seedlings to be issued to farmers during March-April rains. This is part of our strategy to expand moringa trees among our farmers for both healthy and wealth creation.

Below are detailed activities during the reporting quarter.

PROPAGATION OF MORINGA SEEDLINGS.

We have two rain seasons per year. (March- April and Nov –Dec). This means we propagate Moringa seedlings twice a year since its fast growing. During the reporting period, we have propagated 3180 Moringa seedlings which are currently been issued to the farmers.

  MORINGA SEEDS SOURCING

During the reporting period, DNRC staff were busy sourcing Moringa seeds from our farmer groups for 1000kg moringa seeds order. The process involves receiving seeds from farmers, weighing, defeathering then doing the final packaging. We managed to achieve this target and we delivered them for oil pressing.

MORINGA POWDER PROCESSING

 During this reporting period, we also processed 20kgs of Moringa powder. The process involves buying fresh leaves from farmers, drying under shade then gridding to powder which is packaged for both domestic use and for sale.

CHALLENGES

• Water is always our biggest challenge since DNRC has no permanent water source to water our ever expanding tree nursery.

FOCUS FOR NEXT QUARTER

• Training and follow up planted Moringa trees in the farmer’s farms for guidance and on farm trainings
• Continue buying Moringa leaves from farms to process more moringa powder.
• Continue moringa tree seedlings propagation