Lost Crops of Africa Volume II: Vegetables (2006) / Chapter Skim
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14 Moringa
14 Moringa
Pages 246-267
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From page 247... ...
And beyond edibles, it provides products that make village life more self-sufficient: lubricating oil, lamp oil, wood, paper, liquid fuel, skin treatments, and the means to help purify water, to name but a few. The living tree, itself, also provides such things as shade, landscaping, and shelter from the elements.
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From page 248... ...
Taken all round, this supreme poor-person's plant shows a remarkable capacity to help solve problems such as hunger, malnutrition, rural poverty, disease, deforestation, and visual blight. The leaves here are Moringa stenopetala, a cultural heritage and domesticated plant of the Konso people.
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From page 249... ...
Because of discoveries like these a number of development organizations around the world are actively promoting moringa leaves and dried leaf powder as nutritional supplements. The leaves are remarkably easy to handle.
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From page 250... ...
In West Africa the leaves appear at the end of the dry season, when there are few other sources of leafy green vegetables. Several programs already promote production of moringa leaf powder for use in sauces or as a general food additive.
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From page 251... ...
Other Regions Some may at first balk at picking table greens from a tree, but for the hot and hungry corners of the tropical belt any such reluctance is likely to be temporary and will hardly keep moringa from quickly becoming invaluable. USES This living cornucopia can provide various means to a better life in the hot, harsh rural regions.
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From page 252... ...
There is even an international trade in both fresh and canned pods. India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Kenya for instance export them to Asia, Europe, and the United States, where they end up mainly in ethnic Indian groceries.
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From page 253... ...
In Oaxaca, Mexico, poor people have adopted the tree solely as a source of white flowers for decorating churches and houses on religious festival days. Honey A good bee tree, moringa begins flowering at a young age.
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From page 254... ...
In India, for example, water buffaloes are fed the chopped up leaves and branches, which are said to boost milk production. Trials conducted in Nicaragua found that range-fed cows gave a 30-percent increase in milk and meat production when their diet was supplemented with 45 percent moringa forage.9 Oil Pressing the seeds produces a pale-yellow oil.
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From page 255... ...
Charged proteins in the seed tissues coagulate suspended particles, precipitate disease organisms, and generally help turn a dangerous muddy muck into a clear potable liquid. Medicinal Uses Many supposedly effective folk remedies incorporate moringa.
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From page 256... ...
Pods On a dry-weight basis the protein content of moringa pods ranges from 20 to 30 percent -- an amount well above average for a vegetable. Moreover, vitamin C content is so high that a 50 g serving (or less)
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From page 257... ...
We grow it that way and use it as a light shade for vegetables that do not do well in the full tropical sun." HARVESTING AND HANDLING The tree withstands heavy cutting and can provide a continuing supply of wood, fodder, and other products. Both coppicing (continual cutting near the
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From page 258... ...
Such projects need to be undertaken; some are already in action and have much to teach that is positive. In West Africa, Church World Service (CWS)
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From page 259... ...
It is reported by CWS that three spoonfuls of moringa leaf powder (about 25g) contain 300 percent of a typical toddler's daily vitamin A requirement, along with 42 percent of the protein, 125 percent of the calcium, 71 percent of the iron and 22 percent of the vitamin C
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From page 260... ...
Agency for International Development, many health centers now stock moringa leaf powder in their pharmacies for use in treating cases of moderate malnutrition. The seed oil could become a valuable nutritional commodity with the ability to extend diet and provide cooking oil from a readily available local source.
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From page 261... ...
Water Purification Lack of drinkable water is, arguably, the world's biggest health threat. In the rural regions of many developing countries, people must take drinking and washing water from rivers, wadis, swamps, lakes, and even hollowed-out tree trunks.
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From page 262... ...
Moringa may not prove the best candidate, but this possibility ought to be explored. Typically oilseeds need to be heated to free up the oil before they are pressed, but this has been found unnecessary in the case of moringa seed -- friction generates sufficient heat.22 This is a boon in that it removes one cumbersome and costly step, and it also means that the oil may be classed as "cold pressed" and touted as a "natural, pure vegetable oil." · Seeds Tests should be done to determine the range of nutritional values for the seeds (and pods)
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From page 263... ...
SPECIES INFORMATION Botanical Name Moringa oleifera Lamarck Synonyms Moringa pterygosperma Gaertner; Moringa zeylanica Pers.; Guilandina moringa L Family Moringaceae Common Names English: moringa, horseradish tree, drumstick tree, sujuna, ben tree, ben oil tree, French: ben ailé, ben oléifère, benzolive, arbre radis du cheval Spanish: ben, árbol del ben, paraiso, morango, moringa Portuguese: acácia branca, marungo, muringa, moringuiero; cedro (Brazil)
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From page 264... ...
2004. Pollination, pollen germination and stigma receptivity in Moringa oleifera Lamk.
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From page 265... ...
In Ethiopia the related species Moringa stenopetala is regularly found at altitudes up to 1,800 m. Low Temperature The tree is reported to tolerate light frosts without significant damage.
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From page 266... ...
Of these ignored species, one stands out. Unequivocally African, Moringa stenopetala was domesticated in the East African lowlands.
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From page 267... ...
There is also the potential for hybridizing Moringa oleifera with other members of its genus.
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