Moringa Oleifera: The Tree of Life By Jean Marie NIZIGIYIMANA, Burúndi, Africa

Moringa Oleifera: The Tree of Life 

By Jean Marie NIZIGIYIMANA, Burúndi, Africa 

Upon realization that the plant, Moringa Oleifera, could fight hunger in Burundi, I thought about working with it through the BFI Environment department that I lead so as to multiply it and be able to plant it in different provinces of Burundi in order for it to be used as food for many, but also a source of income, considering we will have to transform leaves into powder and use them against malnutrition and some diseases as well as utilize the seeds to create oil for many to use.

I have got 15kg of seeds, and 9 provinces are planting on many lands which comprises about 100ha total. It is all the lands from different provinces together!

So I would like to share about the Moringa tree, which is also called "miracle tree"

 

Moringa is a plant that is native to the sub-Himalayan areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan; it is also grown in the tropics. The leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, and root are used to make medicine.

 

Moringa is used for “tired blood” (anemia); arthritis and other joint pains (rheumatism); asthma; cancer; constipation; diabetes; diarrhea; epilepsy; stomach pain; stomach and intestinal ulcers; intestinal spasms; headaches; heart problems; high blood pressure; kidney stones; fluid retention; thyroid disorders; and bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections.

 

Moringa is also used to reduce swelling, it increases sex drive (as an aphrodisiac), prevents pregnancy, boosts the immune system, and increases breast milk production. Some people use it as a nutritional supplement or tonic.

 

Moringa is sometimes applied directly to the skin as a germ-killer or drying agent (astringent), and it is also used topically for treating pockets of infection (abscesses), athlete’s foot, dandruff, gum disease (gingivitis), snakebites, warts, and wounds.

 

Oil from moringa seeds is used in foods, perfume, and hair care products, as well as machine lubricant.

 

Moringa is an important food source in some parts of the world because it can be grown cheaply and easily. The leaves retain lots of vitamins and minerals when dried, and Moringa is used in India and Africa in feeding programs to fight malnutrition. The immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach, and they are also dried and powdered for use as a condiment.

 

The seed cake remaining after oil extraction is used as a fertilizer and also to purify well water and remove salt from seawater.

 

I am sure that this is going to be a solution for hunger, malnutrition and, ultimately, poverty.