Farm Radio Weekly

Moringa oleifera is cultivated around the world for its nutritious pods, leaves, and flowers. It can survive drought and poor soil conditions. Its oil can be used for lighting or cooking, and moringa leaves can be used as fertilizer. All parts of the tree are useful. It is even used in teas and beauty treatments.

Visit the website of Ms. Mathabatha’s community organization:

http://www.sedikongsalerato.co.za/sedikong_home.html

The research paper that details results of the University if Fort Hare’s work with the residents of Tooseng can be accessed here: http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB/PDF/pdf2011/5Oct/Moyo%20et%20al.pdf

For more news on Ms. Mathabatha’s award, see: http://www.southafrica.info/business/trends/newbusiness/miracletree-010910.htm

You can find more information about the moringa tree and its leaves on the following websites:
http://www.moringanews.org/
http://www.treesforlife.org/moringa/
http://www.new-agri.co.uk/07/01/focuson/focuson1.php

http://www.themoringa.com/nutritional-values

Farm Radio International scripts on moringa include:

-Grow moringa for food and fodder (Package 71, Script 4, June 2004). http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/71-4script_en.asp

-The many uses of the moringa tree (Package 71, Script 3, June 2004). http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/71-3script_en.asp

-Use moringa seeds to clean dirty or polluted water (Package 54, Script 11, January 2000). http://farmradio.org/english/radio-scripts/54-11script_en.asp

One of the first stories published in Farm Radio Weekly looked at the benefits of moringa for people living with HIV:

Benin: The moringa oleifera tree helps people living with HIV regain their strength (FRW #3, December 2007) http://weekly.farmradio.org/2007/12/17/3-benin-the-moringa-oleifera-tree-helps-people-living-with-hiv-regain-their-strength-farm-radio-weekly-agence-france-press-and-allafricacom/

You might consider producing a feature program on moringa oleifera. Find out how common the tree is in your region, and whether extension workers, farmers, or local herbalists have any knowledge or experience with it. Ask experts from local government, NGOs, or research institutes to explain its cultivation and nutritional properties. Try to include farmers in the discussion by asking their opinions about the tree, and whether they would consider growing it or using it to improve nutrition, if they do not already. Find out their concerns and questions. If moringa is not well known in your area, you could do a follow-up program in a year’s time to see if any farmers have planted and used it!