DRIVE AID GHANA

Introduction

MORINGA is fast becoming a panacea plant to Africa and the world at large, its benefits can not be over emphasized, known with several names as ; The miracle tree, Drum stick, Mama s best friend among other names. The tree is becoming Africa s remedy for poverty reduction, health, agriculture and a source of employment especially to the rural poor,

Details

Moringa is a tropical tree with multiple uses and which is resistant to drought. Among the 13 species known, Moringa oleifera is particularly easy to reproduce and its growth is very fast. The numerous economic uses of Moringa oleifera together with its easy propagation have raised growing international interest for this tree. It originates from India and is found in most tropical countries (Africa, Asia and America). Moringa stenopetala and other species from Eastern Africa and Madagascar also have potential even though they have been less exploited so far.

Moringa is an important food source in many countries. In India, Moringa pods are widely consumed and plantations exist to produce pods for export, fresh and tinned, to overseas consumers. In West Africa, Moringa oleifera leaves are commonly used to make sauces. Moringa stenopetala leaves are the staple food of the Konso people in Ethiopia. Studies have shown Moringa oleifera leaves to be an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and protein: perhaps more than any other tropical vegetable. Many programs use Moringa leaves to fight against malnutrition and its associated diseases (blindness etc.).

Moringa seeds contain a cationic polyelectrolyte that has proved efficient in water treatment, as a substitute to aluminium sulphate and other flocculent (water purification). There is a dual advantage to this property:

1) it can be used as a locally-produced substitute for imported flocculent, thus reducing expenditure of foreign currency reserves by third world countries;

2) Moringa flocculent, unlike aluminium sulphate, is completely biodegradable. This aspect may be particularly interesting to developed countries.

Oil extracted from the seeds is an excellent edible vegetable oil and is also useful within the cosmetics industry. A dual usage of Moringa, as a source of oil and flocculent, is possible, since the seed cake remaining after oil extraction retains the flocculating properties.

Other applications of Moringa including use as livestock feed, plant growth hormone, green manure, and medicine are currently the subject of various research efforts

The Tree

THE MORINGA TREE, MORINGA OLEIFERA, IS CALLED MOTHER S BEST FRIEND. That is one way they sometimes refer to this tree in the Philippines where the leaves of the malunggay, as they call it, are cooked and fed to babies. Other names for it include horseradish tree and drumstick tree (India) and benzolive (Haiti).

Moringa tree leaves, pods, and roots are eaten; flowers are loved by bees; and seeds are powdered and used to purify water from murky rivers.

PARTS OF MORINGA TREE
LEAVES	FLOWERS	BEANS
ROOTS	SEEDS	TRUNK

The Future

Any one who encounters this tree is mouth wide open and asks "then what on earth have we done about this tree!" It is for this reason that Drive Aid Ghana has set up the Gree Gold Project to advocate, cultivate and find other ways of using the plant as a source of poverty reduction, and a means to empower the rural poor. You too can join as a member and contribute your ideas, information, and resources, or become a sponsor/ investor..

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