Commercial moringa project a profitable business

Harare - Commercial cultivation of Moringa tree is taking root at Nyamashato primary in Murewa as the Rotary club come on board to add value to thousands of the plant they have planted at Heather Chimoga Orphanage as it proved to be a profitable business.

Traditionally regarded as a wild tree and consumed by Asian community due to its nutritional properties, the plant is turning into a money spinner for small-scale farmers who are shifting from rice farming.

Albert Mukondwa, Project Manager of HCOC said Moringa farming can be a profitable business if funded.

"Moringa farming is an income generating  project which means it can contribute to employment  creation, wealth  generation  and poverty  eradication if  well-funded",

"If 2 hectares  can sustain an organisation like HCOC then it automatically means if  it  is  to  be grown on a commercial scale it can contribute  immensely  to a  boost  in the growth  of  our  economy", said Mukondwa.

He said the plantation that has seen them make a profitable and sustainable source of livelihood in the once sleepy community.

Heather Chimoga has planted 1000 trees  which  has  seen  them  producing five  dollars  per  tree as  minimum price  after  debuting all costs.

"We have  planted 1000 trees and  these gave us a huge profit of five  dollars  per tree and  this  means we got  fifty  thousand  dollars for  the  whole  hectare ,and it  can  produce  more  depending  on  the  type  of  soil and  can  be  harvested 4 to  six  times  a year".

Besides Income generation the tree can also be  used in making of herbal soap, the leaves also have a stabilizing effect on blood pressure and control glucose levels. They are also used to treat anxiety, diarrhoea and inflammation of the colon, skin infections, scurvy and intestinal parasites, among others.

He said there is high demand of Moringa products on the International market and the  country is  unable to meet the demand due to lack of adequate funds.

"We have a huge market  in USA and the demand of Moringa tea, healthy drink, Moringa powder and  some  ingredients  from  the  tree used  to  make  chocolates is  very high but  due  to  lack  of  funding  to  the  sector  we   are not   able  to  meet  the demand."

Scientific research it has shown that the tree's leaves are rich with vitamin A and C, Iron, potassium and proteins. In her terms she said the tree provides poor children with more vitamin C than oranges, more vitamin A than carrots, more iron than roast beef, more potassium than bananas, and more proteins than milk and eggs.

The tree is known for curing more than 130 Known ailments.