Moringa for sustainable development
MORINGA OLEIFERA: A RESILIENT MULTI-PURPOSE ASSET
These studies bring to light the usefulness of Moringa oleifera as an adaptive and resilient multipurpose assets for sustainable development.
Sustainable Moringa value chains can at once improve livelihoods, foster nutritional resilience, and strengthen local ecosystems:
The important role of Moringa oleifera J.D.H. Keatinge, A.W. Ebert, J.d'A. Hughes, R.-Y. Yang, J. Curaba Seeking to attain the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 2 worldwide
One of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seeks to abolish both hunger and malnutrition by ensuring the continuous supply of sufficient, wholesome food enabling people to shift towards adopting healthier, well-balanced diets. In addition, it calls for the establishment of new ways to reduce current food wastage, farming in a manner which conserves biodiversity and environmental services, increases enterprise profitability through new business models and empowers women. Moringa is playing a key role as an adaptive, sustainable and resilient, multipurpose assets.
The little-known bush foods about to change the world. Cosmos Issue 82. Parletta. (2019)
Moringa is “the most nutritious leafy green in the world”. The leaves are rich in ß-carotene, protein, vitamin C, calcium, potassium and antioxidants. The fruit, flowers and immature pods are also eaten, and the root, bark, gum, seed and seed oil are used medicinally.
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Selected Tree Species in the Campus of Shuats. International Journal for Scientific Research and Development 5.6: 63-66. Tanvie B. Marak and Neelam Khare. (2017).
This study investigates the above ground biomass, below ground biomass and carbon sequestration potential of Moringa oleifera and other tree species. It concludes that Moringa oleifera is an important multipurpose tree with significant carbon sequestration potential for agro forestry and reforestation projects.
Linking biodiversity, diet and health in policy and practice. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65(2), 182-189. Johns, T., & Eyzaguirre, P. B. (2006).
Successful food systems in transition effectively draw on locally-available foods, food variety and traditional food cultures. The largely unexplored health benefits of cultivated and wild plants such as Moringa Oleifera Lam include micronutrient intake and functions related to energy density, glycaemic control, oxidative stress and immuno-stimulation. Among the leafy vegetables Moringa oleifera offers a prime example of a fast-growing multi-purpose tree, the leaves of which contain exceptional nutrient quality. It has been promoted successfully to reduce malnutrition in several sub-Saharan African countries.
The utilization of Moringa oleifera in Zimbabwe: A sustainable livelihood approach. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 8(3), 172-185. Maroyi, A. (2006).
Virtually every part of the tree is beneficial in some way and both rural and urban people depend on it for their livelihood. Depending on the purpose and quantity, moringa is grown in nurseries as a community project or on a small scale at the family level. It can function as windbreaks, for erosion control, live fences, as an ornamental or intercropped to provide semi-shade to species requiring less direct sunlight. The central message of this report are that effective development and effective management of moringa are essential for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Zimbabwe.
Importance of Moringa oleifera tree to human livelihood: A case study of Isokan local government area in Osun state. Elixir Agriculture, 55(2013), 12959-12963. Azeez, F. A., Nosiru, M. O., Clement, N. A., Awodele, D. A., Ojo, D., & Arabomen, O. (2013).
Moringa Oleifera is an ideal plant to promote at the household level because it is extremely resilient to harsh growing environments, including drought, poor soil quality and many pests and diseases. It is a complete food in itself. Everything about the moringa oleifera is nutritious. This study seeks to determine the profitability of Moringa oleifera production with a particular reference to the socio economic characteristics of the farmers in the study area. This study recommends that more technologically improved methods of processing, packaging and preservations should be adopted and encouraged for economic efficiency.
Development of tissue culture methods for the rescue and propagation of endangered Moringa spp. germplasm. Economic botany, 58(sp1), S116-S124. Stephenson, K. K., & Fahey, J. W. (2004).
Moringa is a tropical plant genus with great food, horticultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical potential. Although many of the thirteen known Moringa species are in danger of extinction, one species, M. oleifera Lam., is now widely cultivated.
A comparison between Moringa oleifera and chemical coagulants in the purification of drinking water–An alternative sustainable solution for developing countries. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 35(13-14), 798-805. Pritchard, M., Craven, T., Mkandawire, T., Edmondson, A. S., & O’neill, J. G. (2010).
This study investigates the performance of Moringa oleifera compared with that of aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) and ferric sulphate (Fe2(SO4)3), termed alum and ferric respectively. Although not as effective as alum or ferric, M. oleifera showed sufficient removal capability to encourage its use for treatment of turbid waters in developing countries.
Adoption of Moringa oleifera to combat under-nutrition viewed through the lens of the "Diffusion of innovations" theory. Ecol Food Nutr. May-Jun;48(3):212-25.Thurber MD, Fahey JW. (2009); Doi: 10.1080/03670240902794598.
Moringa oleifera's nutrient-dense leaves are high in quality protein , leading to its widespread use by doctors, healers, nutritionists and community leaders, to treat under-nutrition and a variety of illnesses. The "Diffusion of innovations theory" describes well, the evidence for growth and adoption of dietary M. oleifera leaves, and it highlights the need for a scientific consensus on the nutritional benefits.
Calculation of carbon sequestration and soil fauna associated with Moringa oleifera Lam. in living fences. Centro Agrícola, 42(1), 75-81. ISO 690 Hernández, O. L., Tomes, A. V., González, D. T., Cabrera, I. P., Pino, I. Y., & Gort, D. D. L. C. G. (2017).
The objective of this study was to determine the carbon retention and the soil fauna associated with Moringa oleifera Lam, used for living fences, specifically a one-year-old fence, built on a typical brown soil without carbonate. The approximate carbon sequestration and the soil fauna associated with the species were calculated. The results indicated the advantages of using M. oleifera for living fences, due to their positive environmental effect when sequestrating high levels of carbon dioxide (the carbon stored by this species is of 68 kg/a, which is closely equal to 45,35 t of C/km), and they also create a favorable environment for soil fauna. In the assessed period, the worms and the coleopterons were the main groups found, which are also important for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
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A series of experiments were performed to investigate spacing and harvest frequency effects on the growth, leaf yield and quality of Moringa oleifera Lam at the Department of Horticulture of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. The studies showed that optimum spacing in a well-drained sandy loam soil was 5×15 cm (1.333 million plants/ha). After the initial harvest at 60 days after sowing, successive harvests should be made at 35 day intervals when it was found to be richest in nutrients, particularly crude protein content.
Research on vegetable oil for biofuels in Africa and Asia has focused mainly on Jatropha curcas while other potential oil bearing plants have received little attention. Vegetable oil production potential for five oil bearing plant species namely: Aleurites moluccana, Croton megalocarpus, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera and Pachira glabra were investigated. The Multi-criteria Decision Analysis ranked C. megalocarpus as the plant with the highest vegetable oil production potential of 1.8 t ha−1 y−1 followed by M. oleifera, J. curcas(1 t ha−1 y−1), A. moluccana, and P. glabra.
This article reviews the nutritional applications of moringa for humans, its industrial uses and its propagation methods. It concludes that Moringa Oleifera is one of the world’s most useful trees, as every part can be used for food and medicine, while increasing soil fertility and providing ecological niches.
Moringa oleifera is gaining importance due to its multipurpose uses and good adaptability to both humid and dry climates. Almost all parts of the plant are used. The species is considered as a neglected and under-utilized as its potential is still not well economically known and valued despite its various uses stretching from food and medicinal uses to water purification, biopesticide and production of biodiesel.
Moringa species are commonly known as miracle tree because of its manifold benefits that have tremendous potential in combating malnutrition and alleviating nutritional deficiencies. It emerges as low cost nutritional supplement especially for the vegetarians with its enriched protein content. Moringa with its multifaceted benefits seems promising in achieving the sustainable development goals for a healthy and brighter future.
Conclusion:
Moringa is an adaptive and resilient multipurpose assets for sustainable development.
-> Nutu moringa improves livelihoods, foster nutritional resilience, and strengthen local ecosystems.