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Peace Corps Benin’s M ringa Starter Kit
Peace Corps Benin’s
M ringa
Starter Kit
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Moringa 101 ………………………………………..………. 1
Welcome to your Moringa Starter Kit
What is Moringa?
Nutritional Value of Moringa
What’s the catch?
What can I do?
One More Thing...
Chapter 2: Seeds ..……………………………………………...………… 5
Where can I find seeds?
What do good seeds and seed pods look like?
How do I treat quality seeds?
Chapter 3: Planting ………………………………………...……………. 8
Site Selection
Preparing the Land
Seeding
Planting Methods
Chapter 4: Maintenance ……………………………….……………... 12
Watering
Weeding
Pest Control
Pruning
Chapter 5: Harvesting & Powder Production …...…..…………. 14
Harvesting Moringa Leaves
Step-By-Step Moringa Powder Production
Notes & Tips
Chapter 6: Marketing ..…………………………….………………….. 16
Product
Price
Production
Place
Promotion
Chapter 7: Project Ideas ……………….………………………….….. 18
Chapter 8: Cooking ……………………………..……………………… 24
Chapter 9: Myths & Facts …………….……………….……………... 27
Glossary …………………………………………………………………… 28
Appendix …………………………………………………………………. 30
Resources …………………………………………………………………. 31
Contributors ……………………………………………………….…….. 32
Moringa 101 Welcome to your Moringa starter kit!
This starter kit is designed to provide you with all the materials
and information you need to start your own Moringa projects, ou
bien, simply plant a few trees. Chances are, you’ll be focused on
integrating into your community during the first couple of months
at post, but being the industrious, upstanding volunteer that you
are, you’ll probably be itching to jump right into some “real” high-
impact work right away. Planting Moringa trees is easy,
sustainable, and one of the most important things you can do to
improve food security at your post.
Your starter kit includes the following:
1 Booklet
100 Moringa seeds
1 Bottle of Moringa powder
1 Reusable bag
What is Moringa?
Known worldwide by numerous names, including ‘the miracle tree’,
Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species of the
Moringaceae family. It is native to the sub-Himalayan regions of
India, and is typically used as a dietary supplement. It is one of the
most efficient solutions to improving the dietary diversity and
quality of the Beninese household.
1
Nutritional Value of Moringa
While Moringa is a multipurpose plant—every part of it from its
roots to its seed pods are edible or can be used for medicinal or
water purifying purposes—the most important part of it for your
village is its leaves. Moringa leaves are packed full of vitamins and
minerals and contain all 9 essential amino acids, making it one of
the very rare plants that offers a complete source of protein. Gram
for gram, powder made from dried Moringa leaves contains:
Four times more vitamin A than carrots
Four times the calcium of milk
More iron than spinach
Seven times the vitamin C of oranges
Three times the potassium of bananas - the list goes
on…
Moringa provides an excellent and underexploited key in fighting
malnutrition. Moringa can be used as a dietary supplement to
Benin’s mostly carb- and starch-heavy diet, especially in areas
where other fruits and vegetables are unavailable (a problem in
Northern Benin). Moringa leaves, both fresh and dried, can be
added to any sauce without altering its taste, and Moringa-
enriched bouille can help combat mild malnutrition or even better
- help prevent it altogether.
For adults
6 tablespoons of
Moringa powder provides:
For children 1-3 years old
3 tablespoons of
Moringa powder provides:
For breastfeeding women
6 tablespoons of
Moringa powder provides:
2
What’s the catch?
So let’s reiterate: miracle tree. Powerhouse leaves that gram per
gram contain: “four times more vitamin A than carrots, four times
more calcium than milk, seven times more vitamin C than oranges,
three times more potassium than bananas, and more iron than
spinach. The protein of Moringa leaves also rivals that of milk and
eggs’ (Fahey, 2005).” There must be some kind of catch, right? Are
the leaves are impossibly difficult to extract because thorn-like
death cages surround them? Does the tree require assiduous and
vigilant care? Is it Goldilocks-grade finicky when it comes to water?
Here are a few more details about the Moringa tree itself so you
know the whole scoop before diving in:
The Moringa tree tolerates a wide range of
environmental conditions including extremely high
temperatures.
Its tuberous taproot makes it drought-resistant.
It is fast-growing like a weed. Rapidly germinating
seedlings can reach 5 meters in one year.
It can grow in destitute soils, and even prefers sandy
loam or loam soil.
The leaves are so tasty, goats are all over Moringa trees
all the time. (Ok—this is a legitimate catch. You will
probably have to find a way to protect your young
seedlings from ravenous goats.)
What can I do?
Read the rest of this booklet and start planting! Now is the time.
It’s easiest to start planting during the rainy season. If it’s any other
season, you’ll need to identify another water source. Below is a
chart that outlines the general season pattern; this may vary
depending on where you are in the country.
3
One More Thing...
You might hear the dirty rumor that there are no studies to back
up all these wonderful claims about Moringa and malnutrition.
Here’s the deal: no one is questioning the nutritional makeup of
the leaves. There is plenty of reputable research concerning that.
What’s missing is a large scale, robust study on the efficacy of
Moringa and malnourished children. There are many hurdles that
would need to be overcome to do a study like this. One major
hurdle being the ethical reasoning behind altering an already
effective treatment for malnutrition (à la plumpy’nut). However,
what we’re aiming at is improving food security and quality of
nutrition, as well as taking preemptive measures to combat
malnutrition in Benin.
Moringa is your leafy plant for the job!
Imagine a Benin in which every concession has a couple of
Moringa trees so that fresh or dried leaves are added to meals on
a daily basis. Imagine students eating Moringa-enriched bouille
instead of plain corn meal porridge every day! Ah. Cela serait bon,
n’est-ce pas? You can make it happen, mon ami(e)!
Photo: treesforlife.org
4
Where can I find seeds?
Seed banks are located at each of the workstations (Cotonou,
Parakou, Natitingou and Kandi). You can take as many seeds as
you want from them, but you must return the same number of
seeds once your trees start to produce quality seeds.
Below are some additional sources of Moringa seeds. Note: When
contacting seed sources, be sure to ask if the seeds are for sale or
if they are free.
Seeds
5
What do good seeds and seed pods look like?
There are two important steps in identifying seeds that are ready
for planting
1. The seed pod
Look for pods that are dark brown in color
The pods should be completely dry and very brittle
The number of seeds within the pod has no effect on
the quality of seeds
Here is an example of three
pods at different stages. The
pod on the far left is not ready
to give seeds, the middle
group is almost there, but
should be left on the tree a
little bit longer (maybe a week
or two), and finally, on the
right, we have two seed pods
that are ready to go.
Notice that the pods on the
right are also breaking open a
bit on the end. This is because
when the pods are ready, they
become dry and brittle and
thus crack open easily,
sometimes when harvested.
Here is an example of three seeds.
The seed on the far left is
underdeveloped and discolored,
the seed in the middle is about
the right size, but still discolored,
and the seed on the right is the
perfect size and color. It is ready
to be planted!
2. The seed
While the size of quality seeds varies, they usually have a
circumference about the size of your pinky fingernail
The seed should be brown, preferably dark brown, in
color
Lightly squeeze the seed; if it pops, it was not a quality
seed
6
Photo: Kelly Baug, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Drew Dilts, 2012 - 2014
How do I treat quality seeds?
1. To prevent damage from humidity, heat, and rodents/pests, it
is best to store Moringa seeds in jute sacks or cement sacks
(such as the Dangote Cement sacks often sold in boutiques)
However, any sack that breathes (allows some air in and
out) will suffice.
2. The night before planting, let the seeds sit in cold water; this
will help the seeds germinate.
If the seed pod is ready to go, opening it should be easy. This pod (also pictured
on page 6) cracked open at the top when it was harvested in Parakou.
These Moringa seeds
are being housed in the
breathable and
multifunctional bag
that our Peace Corps
helmets come in. Very
smart!
7
Photo: Kelly Baug, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Drew Dilts, 2012 - 2014
Planting
8
Site Selection
Moringa grows best in tropical and subtropical environments,
meaning it flourishes in Benin. The altitude, climate and
temperature throughout Benin provide optimal growing
conditions. Moringa prefers loamy, sandy or sandy-loam soil to
grow. Choose an area where the soil is well-drained and avoid clay
soils that become sticky when wet and very hard when dry. Your
site should be an area that receives plenty of sunlight and must be
protected from roaming animals (which love to eat Moringa
saplings and leaves) by a natural or artificial fence.
Preparing the Land
Land should first be
cleared of woods and all
unwanted trash and
other unwanted
materials. Construct a
fence if necessary. If
there are any roaming
animals around your
garden a fence is a must,
and you should consider
investing in some sort of
metal grillage to keep
out animals if you don’t
know if a natural fence
will do the trick. You can
either plow the land
with a cow team (if you
plan on planting a large
area) or simply hire
some petites to sarcler
for you, or do it yourself.
Decide where you want
to plant the Moringa trees and dig pits and mix the soil there with
cow manure, an excellent fertilizer.
A natural fence in Bessassi (Borgou region)
A synthetic, more durable fence in Bouca
(Borgou region)
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Seeding
Option 1: Direct Seeding
Direct Seeding is preferable for
Moringa Oleifera, which has a very
high germination rate. Seeds must
be sown at a maximum depth of
2cm, as deeper seeding will
greatly reduce the germination rate
(how quick it begins to grow). Up
to 3 seeds per pit/hole can be
sewn. If more than one seed germinates, the weaker sapling (after
it reaches a height of 30cm) can be removed and transplanted to
another hole. However, this can be highly damaging to the tree’s
taproot and is not always highly successful. Moringa seeds
germinate about 5-12 days after seeding. A good rule of thumb is
that if the seed hasn’t germinated after 2 weeks, it will never
germinate and the hole can be dug up and replanted.
Option 2: Seeding in a Pépinière
Seeding in a Pépinière is an option if you are unsure as to whether
your seeds are good or if you want to give your plants time to
grow before planting them and exposing them to pests, animals,
heavy rains etc. Pure Water sachets work best but almost any type
of clear or even black sachet can work. First, cut off the top of the
sachet and poke multiple small holes in the bottom so that water
can leave. Fill the sachet with about 1/3 sand, 1/3 soil and 1/3 cow
manure or compost. Sow the seeds at the same depth, about 2 cm,
as with direct seeding. While the saplings remain in the Pépinière,
protect containers from heavy
rains ad direct sunlight. The young
trees must be nursed for 4-6
weeks before transplanting,
waiting until the saplings are
about 30 cm in height. When
transplanting the sapling from the
sachet to the pit in your actual
garden, take great care when
removing the bag to ensure that
the taproot isn’t damaged.
A newly sprouted sapling
9 days after planting
Examples of Moringa seeds sprouting
in Pépinières (Parakou, Borgou)
9
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Option 3: Seeding with cuttings
Seeding with cuttings – Moringa is interesting in that directly
planted wood cuttings can also be planted and become full grown
trees. From a mature tree, take hard woodcuttings of one meter
long and at least 4-5cm in
diameter. When planting, 1/3
of the stem must be buried in
the soil. However, it should be
noted that trees produced with
cuttings will not have a very
deep root system and are
more susceptible to drought.
This option is great, and
timesaving if you know
someone who already has
mature Moringa trees,
however, Northern volunteers
especially should take caution
when planting in a non-
irrigated garden because of
the especially long and harsh
dry season between October
and May.
A newly planted cutting
(Parakou, Borgou)
Two views of a tree growing from a cutting (Parakou, Borgou)
10
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014 Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Planting methods
Depending on your plans for your Moringa project there are many
different options for planting and planning the layout and spacing
of your garden.
Method 1: Intensive planting
If you plan to raise many trees or eventually start some kind of
commercial production (powder, oil, leaves, pods, etc. ) then this is
the way to go. Plants should be spaced 15 x 15cm or 10 x 20cm
apart with conveniently
spaced alleys about
every 4 meters to
facilitate plant care and
harvests. These
intensive systems are
really only for
commercial production
and require more skill
and effort to maintain
(because of weeding,
manuring and disease
prevention in close
quarters).
Method 2: Semi-intensive planting
This is a good option for planting a lot of trees in a small space
and gives exceptional results with less maintenance. Plant trees
about 50cm x 1m or 1m x 1m.
Method 3: Inter-cropping
Moringa trees can be sewn in alleys between other crops. The
distance between rows of Moringa trees should be about 2-4m
and they must be oriented East-West to ensure that intercrops
receive enough sun.
It is advisable to avoid intercropping Moringa with crops that
require lots of nitrogen (maize or cassava/manioc), crops that
require chemical treatments, and crops that can compete for light
with Moringa trees (millet, sorghum). However, it can grow well
when intercropped with crops that enrich the soil in minerals and
nitrogen (groundnut/peanut, soy or beans). 11
Photo: Treesforlife.org
Example of intensive planting
Watering
If sown during the rainy season, irrigation or extra watering are
both unnecessary – the taproot of a Moringa sapling can grow
deep enough in 20 days to resist drought. However, to be on the
safe side, it is advisable to irrigate or water regularly during the
first 3 months after seeding. Sometimes during the severe dry
season in northern Benin a tree without extra irrigation will shed its
leaves and they will grow back at the onset of the new rainy
season. If you’re planting a tree for personal use, Moringa can be
planted next to your douche for automatic watering all year long!
Weeding (also known as sarcler-ing)
Manual weeding with a hoe removes weeds and loosens the soil
for good aeration. You must weed regularly, especially in the first 3
months, as weeds compete for water, nitrogen and sunlight
especially with young trees. Weeding must be more frequent
during the rainy season. When weeding, uprooted weeds can be
left on the soil as a mulch to reduce evaporation and enrich the
soil.
Pest Control
Pests pose a huge threat to Moringa trees. Try to detect early
infestation if possible by noting discoloration of leaves, lines,
patterns or bite marks appearing on the trunks or leaves. The most
common pests are grasshoppers, crickets and caterpillars. Most
outbreaks occur at the beginning of the dry season when insects
cannot find other green material to feed on.
Maintenance
12
Another approach to protecting your trees from attack is to apply
dry, crushed stems and leaves around the base of the tree. This
approach is pictured above at a home garden in Parakou.
Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
Synthetic insecticides can
be used but are expensive
and potentially toxic. It is
safer to avoid pesticide use
altogether if leaves will be
harvested for eating or
drying. If you find it
absolutely necessary to use
a pesticide/insecticide try to
choose the least toxic.
However, there are organic
options as well that can be safely applied to both soil and leaves to
avoid infestation. Perhaps the most easily reproducible of these is
‘Neem Cream,’ derived from the leaves or seeds of the native
Neem plant (refer to appendix).
Pruning
Moringa trees can grow to
heights of 3-4m in the 1st year
and continue to about 10-12m.
Pruning young Moringa trees is
especially important because
they tend to grow upwards,
producing long vertical branches
with leaves and fruits only at
their extremity. Yields will be low
if trees are left to grow naturally.
Pruning trees when they reach a
height of 50cm to 1m will
enhance lateral branching and
create bushy growth. At this
height, pinch/remove the
terminal bud on the central stem
– promoting growth of lateral branches. When trimming a terminal
stem to enhance branching, always do so just above a node or else
the tree will rot all the way down to the node below the cut.
Terminal branches can be cut down to promote nodes growing
further down on the tree, promoting more leaf growth and a
bushier shape. The best time of year to prune is in the rainy
season.
A fungal disease on some Moringa leaves
A relatively poorly pruned Moringa tree
(Parakou, Borgou)
13
Photo: Kelly Baug, 2012 - 2014
Photo: Devon Abt, 2012 - 2014
Harvesting &
Powder Production Harvesting Moringa leaves
Leaves should be harvested
when they are big and dark
green.
Yellow or light green leaves
should be avoided. The lighter
green or yellow color means
the leaves were not ready to
be harvested and will not
contain all the vitamins and
minerals normally found in Moringa leaves.
Step-by-Step Powder Production
Step 1: Harvest, wash and dry the leaves.
Harvest the leaves by simply picking them off the tree.
The best time to wash the leaves for powder is immediately
after harvesting them, otherwise they dry poorly.
Wash them in clean water so that all dirt, bugs, etc. are gone.
Set the leaves on their drying table. Leaves should not be dried
in direct sunlight, because the sun will deplete the Vitamin A in
the leaves. Therefore, all leaves should be dried indoors. One
set-up that works particularly well is to build a drying table;
instead of having a wooden table top, stretch some grillage or
a pagne across the frame. This will allow for faster drying
because air can circulate under the leaves as well as on top,
although you should still turn the leaves to ensure that they dry
completely.
Leaves should not be transformed into powder until they are
completely dry. This can take anywhere from 2-5 days
depending on the humidity at your post.
Leaves that are ready to be harvested
in Glazoué
14
Photo: Drew Dilts, 2012 - 2014
Step 2: Crush/Grind/Pound leaves into powder.
For small quantities, using a mortar and pestle is the easiest
way to grind leaves into powder.
Ensure the utensils are clean and dry before putting in
leaves and then pound them into powder.
For larger quantities of leaves this make be time consuming, so
using a mill may be more efficient.
Before using a mill, make sure that you examine the
machine. It should be clean and dry. Also make sure that
you go first thing in the morning otherwise the machine
gets very hot from use and this heat can break down the
vitamins and minerals in the leaves while they are being
transformed into powder.
Notes & Tips:
Moringa powder should be a dark green color; this shows that
the leaves were ready to be harvested and that the powder
contains all the vitamins and minerals normally found in
Moringa leaves.
If your Moringa powder is a brown color it means that the
powder has already gone bad, most likely from moisture or
exposure to too much sunlight.
Moringa powder should be stored in a clean, DRY and sealable
container. Storing powder in wet containers will cause the
powder to grow mold.
Old water bottles work well, as long as they are
completely dried before powder is placed inside.
Fresh, clean
leaves laid out
on an indoor
drying rack in
Parakou.
15
Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
16
Marketing Marketing your Moringa product will vary village to village. Be
creative, ask questions end du courage!
Product
Figure out which Moringa product works best for your project.
Price
When setting a price for your Moringa product it is important to
keep the following questions in mind:
What is your customer’s perceived value of the product?
Is your price fair? What is the going rate in village for similar
products?
Also note that prices will differ by region. For example,
Cotonou prices will be higher than Kandi prices.
Does your price generate a profit?
Production
When choosing a Moringa product, consider the steps that go into
the production of said product. If your organization or group has
the capacity to do it, awesome! If not, you’ll need to reconsider.
Place (synonymous with distribution)
You’re ready to sell your Moringa, great! Answer these questions
and discuss expectations with all parties involved:
Where are you going to sell your Moringa product? In a
boutique, at the marché or elsewhere?
Who is going to sell your product? Do they expect to be paid?
Does your product need to be transported? If so, how?
Promotion
Every product needs a consumer, and all of your hard work will
have gone to waste if you do not know how to reach your buyers.
It’s best to promote your Moringa product in a way that gives the
consumer an advantage.
Why should Beninese people care about Moringa?
Why should they buy Moringa products?
How do Moringa products compare to alternatives?
In need of someone to buy your Moringa product? Try the
Moringa News Network’s Member Directory. Here you can find
organizations and individuals around Benin who are interested in
buying Moringa seeds, powder and leaves.
http://www.moringanews.org/membres_en.html
17
Above is the Association Béninoise du Moringa’s office and store
front located in Parakou.
Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
Project Ideas Moringa is a popular project focal point among Volunteers
because it can be easily tailored towards a variety of underlying
objectives. Moringa can be used as a tool to talk about nutrition,
as an income generating activity, or as a way to get students
thinking about gardening. Detailed below are some sector specific
ideas for Moringa projects, but by no means are limited to the
Volunteers in that respective sector.
Sector: Rural Community Health (RCH)
RCH Project Idea #1: Cooking demonstrations
A cooking demonstration is one of the best ways to train women
on the benefits of Moringa along with how to cook with it in a
variety of ways (ex: one recipe with leaves, another with the
powder). Having some women help with the demonstrations will
have a greater impact than if you were to do it alone.
To make the demonstration as sustainable as possible, have the
women contribute all of the ingredients. Be sure to use local
foods and resources from your village.
Pick a time and place that is convenient for your target group.
If possible, go to them. For example, if a women’s group has a
meeting on a certain day and time, ask if you can do the
demonstration for the group after their meeting.
While the dishes are being made, explain in detail why Moringa
is so nutritious. Explain the importance of the essential
nutrients for children under five.
At the end, encourage the women and children to taste the
dishes.
If possible, have Moringa to give away or sell after the
demonstration and be clear about where the women can get
Moringa for use in the future.
Indicator:
Able to identify foods that provide essential nutrients for
children under five
18
RCH Project Idea #2: Nutrition Trainings
Moringa can easily be incorporated into the nutrition work you
may find yourself already doing at post. These trainings can be an
afternoon with a women’s group, a weeklong with community
health workers, a series with your care group, etc. The depth of the
training should depend on the target group and available time
period. It is up to the discretion of the volunteer whether he or she
promotes Moringa throughout the sessions, or saves it for the end
as a session of its own.
Ideally these trainings will end in a cooking demonstration.
Indicators:
Ability to identify optimal complementary feeding practices
Educated on nutritional needs of children from 12 to 59
months of age
Able to identify foods that provide essential nutrients for
children under five
RCH Project Idea #3: Care Groups
There are many ways in which you could incorporate Moringa into
your care group. One of the easiest and most effective is
promoting it during your sessions on nutrition, much like with the
nutritional trainings outlined above.
On top of discussing how Moringa is an easy and affordable way
to get some of the key nutrients discussed during the sessions,
you could also help your care group women sell the product, thus,
this would involve trainings on money management and
bookkeeping. Also, leader mothers can promote Moringa and its
benefits and because of their status and knowledge, their opinions
on Moringa are likely to be respected.
Indicators:
Ability to identify optimal complementary feeding practices
Educated on nutritional needs of children from 12 to 59
months of age
Able to identify foods that provide essential nutrients for
children under five
19
Sector: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
TEFL Project Idea #1: School lunches
You could work with the women who sell snacks/lunch at the
school to encourage them to add Moringa to their current recipes.
To successfully do so, you should first train the women on all of
the benefits of Moringa and conduct cooking demonstrations
with them.
You could encourage them to use it by explaining that
complementary lessons given to students will hopefully
increase the demand for the product and in turn make their
product more appealing.
TEFL Project Idea #2: Clubs
There are many ways that you could have your clubs get involved
with Moringa work. Together you could start a garden at the
school, do a mural or plant seeds in plastic bags which they could
transport to their homes.
Indicator:
Non-English extracurricular activities
TEFL Project Idea #3: School gardens
You could work with a group of students to create a school
garden. There are many ways in which the volunteer could involve
the student body and the community in this project.
Indicators:
Number students benefiting directly from the physical
improvements done with PCV support
School/community engagement
TEFL Project Ideas #4: Murals
Murals depicting Moringa’s benefits could be painted on the
school walls. This would work best in conjunction with other
Moringa activities at the school.
Indicator:
Number of murals done at school
20
TEFL Project Idea #5: Health Curriculum
At the quatrième level (equivalent to eighth grade level), English
teachers incorporate health topics into their lessons. You could
add Moringa education to lessons or units on Nutrition.
These lessons could also be introduced before quatrième during
English club. Students enjoy learning about nutrition especially
when introduced with the “nutrition house” (a way of presenting
the three main food groups). Be sure to keep the vocabulary
simple, so that they can focus on the concepts of Moringa rather
than getting lost in translation.
21
Above is an example of a nutrition house. It is broken down into
groups of protectors (les aliments protecteurs): fruits and
vegetables, constructors (les aliments constructeurs): protein and
energy (les aliments énergétiques): carbohydrate based foods.
Sector: Community Economic Development (CED)
CED Project Idea #1: Business Clubs
You could use Moringa to show your business clubs ways that
could be used an income generating activity. (See photo on page
22)
As you would with any group of young entrepreneurs, you should
work through business plans, discuss target groups, and increase
demand by encouraging them to talk to the community about the
benefits of Moringa. The club should work together to find
suppliers and buyers to determine fair prices for selling the final
product.
Indicators:
Individuals trained in entrepreneurship
Business plans completed
CED Project Idea #2: Micro-Business
You could work with individuals on creating a business that
revolves around the production and selling of a Moringa product.
Indicator:
Individuals starting business with a business plan
Individuals trained in production and/or marketing
Product or service development
In Parakou, CED PCVs
Heather Pace and Lisa
Hembre started a business
club at a center for
abandoned girls. The club is
pictured to the left standing
in front of their freshly
sowed Moringa garden. The
Moringa was used to teach
the students how to run
their own businesses and
other entrepreneurial skills.
22 Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
Sector: Environmental Action (EA)
EA Project Idea #1: Environmental clubs
Start an Environmental club at your local CEG or in your
neighborhood. Encourage your environmental clubs to either start
a school garden together or plant seeds in plastic bags and do
demonstrations on how to transplant them at their homes. Work
through the best practices of planting seeds and maintaining a
proper garden, as were outlined in previous chapter.
Indicators:
Individuals who planted trees
# trees planted
Teaching environmental education
EA Project Idea #2: Gardens
Start Moringa gardens! Do so with different groups, different
locations get as many people involved and excited about Moringa
as possible.
Indicators:
Individuals who planted trees
Number of trees planted
Tree survival one year
Individuals implementing gardening practices
Total new gardens
Household increased access to fresh food
New school gardens
Pictured to the left is a
simple family Moringa
garden in Glazoué.
Photo: Drew Dilts, 2012 - 2014 23
Cooking Fresh Leaves
When cooking Moringa leaves, it is best to use fresh, “young”
leaves. It is also best to incorporate the leaves at the last minute in
order to retain as much nutritious value as possible. Cooking too
long, and/or at a temperature that is too high drastically reduces
the levels of Vitamin A in the leaves.
Powder
Adding Moringa powder to any dish is an easy way to dramatically
increase its nutritional value. Mix two to three spoonfuls of powder
with water before adding it to your sauce or any other recipe.
Small quantities of Moringa powder will not have a strong effect
on the taste of your dish.
Flowers
The flowers of the Moringa plant are a good source of calcium and
potassium but must be cooked before they are consumed. Fried,
they have a flavor similar to mushrooms. The flowers can also be
sautéed along with the leaves in a Moringa sauce, or simply
steamed and added to a salad.
Seed Pods
Young Moringa seed pods can be prepared
just like green beans. Cooked, they have a
flavor similar to asparagus. As the seed pods
develop, the exterior becomes tough and
brittle, but the immature seeds (which are still
white) can still be consumed. If you open the
seed pods, you can extract the seeds and flesh.
Rinse them well in order to remove the film on
the seeds, which has a bitter taste. Once they
are rinsed they can be cooked in the same
manner as you would prepare peas. Boil them
and mix them with rice, or fry them for a crisp,
savory snack.
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Pictured on the right are two young seed pods
that look like and can be cooked like green beans. Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
If you’re interested in doing a cooking demonstration, these are
your go-to recipes.
Recipe #1: Moringa Sauce
Ingredients: Fresh or dried Moringa leaves, 4 table spoons of
vegetable oil, 2 onions, 3 cloves garlic, 3 cups of water, 12 small
tomatoes, 2-3 piments chopped, 1 cube chicken bouillon, salt &
pepper
Instructions: Heat oil and add tomatoes, onions, piment, and garlic.
Sauté for about 5 minutes. Add water and bouillon. Cover and let
simmer for 20 minutes. Add fresh or dried Moringa leaves in sauce
for 1 minute. Add salt and pepper to taste. For extra spicy sauce,
simmer with two more piments (whole) in the sauce.
Recipe #2: Moringa Sauce #2
Ingredients: Even, thick blend of ecrased piment, tomato, and
onion (to taste), sesame powder, diced onions, ecrased fresh
moringa leaves, chunks of fried wagashi, mustard, oil, salt, blended
five spice, whole piment peppers and water
Instructions: Heat oil and ecrased piment, tomato and onion over
medium-high heat. Add mustard and bring to a boil stirring
occasionally for five minutes. Add water if necessary to achieve
desired consistency. Mix sesame powder with water to form a thick
paste. Slowly incorporate into the sauce, stirring constantly to
make a thick, smooth sauce. Add five spice to taste. Add the
wagashi, moringa, raw onions, piment peppers, and salt. Stir. (Be
careful on the salt ratio, and taste frequently – the mustard is
already naturally salty, but the moringa needs a lot of seasoning)
Simmer for five more minutes until the sauce and cheese are
evenly heated.
Recipe #2: Moringa bouillie
Ingredients: 60 g of corn flour, 5 g of sugar, Moringa powder,
Water, Milk
Instructions: Mix all ingredients except for milk. Boil and prepare as
you would plain bouillie and serve with the milk. (You can add
Moringa powder to any bouillie – enriched with soy flour, peanut
butter, etc.)
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Here are some recipe ideas for when you’re feeling homesick or
are hanging out with other PCVs at your VAC meeting taco night!
Recipe #4: Moringa Breakfast Burritos
Ingredients: Fresh or dried Moringa leaves, 3 tbsp of Moringa
powder, 7 cups of wheat flour, 1 tsp of salt, 1 cup of oil or butter,
water, eggs, desired omelet ingredients (onions, tomatoes,
peppers, etc.)
Instructions:
Tortillas: Combine flour, salt, Moringa and oil or butter in bowl,
add water and stir until dough reaches a roll-able pie crust-type
consistency. Form golf-size balls and using a floured surface roll
bolls out into thin flat circles. Cook on oiled frying pan.
Omelets: Mix eggs, fresh or dried Moringa leaves and other
desired omelet ingredients into bowl. Pour into frying pan, leave
until cooked. Should be no longer than a few minutes.
Serve burrito style and add piment for an extra kick - Olé!
Recipe # 5: Moringa Juice
Grind fresh Moringa leaves with a mortar and pestle, adding a little
bit of water as you mix. Filter the liquid from the leaves using a
pagne, thin cloth, or sieve. To produce larger quantities, use an
electric/motorized mill to grind the fresh leaves with some water
added in (use roughly 1 liter of water for 10kg of fresh leaves).
Dissolve 1 Tbsp of the crushed Moringa in 1 liter of water. Mix well
and filter. Add sugar to taste. Store the juice and/or concentrate in
a refrigerator (at a workstation).
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Photo: Heather Pace, 2012 - 2014
Myths & Facts Moringa is no better for you than any other leafy green.
False! Do all other leafy greens have enough protein to prevent
kwashiorkor (yes, that’s a thing) malnutrition, iron to prevent
anemia, vitamin A to prevent night blindness, vitamin C to prevent
scurvy, calcium to help kids grow plump, and calcium for strong
bones? The answer is no.
There is no legitimate research supporting the benefits of
Moringa and malnutrition.
Although there has not been a robust study supporting the
benefits of Moringa and malnutrition, there have been numerous
smaller-scale studies done by reputable researchers supporting
the diverse benefits of Moringa and malnutrition. Do some google
-ing and you will see!
Moringa tastes bad.
This is all relative and depends on personal opinion, obviously, but
most people don't even taste Moringa when it's added to things.
Moringa can't actually help malnourished children.
Moringa should not be used as the core treatment of severely
malnourished children, but if added to children's meals it can
prevent the onset and also bring upon speedy recoveries to mild
and malnourished malnutrition.
Moringa cures HIV/AIDS!
No. Although, we acknowledge that would be awesome.
You can plant a new Moringa tree by cutting a branch off of a
living Moringa tree and sticking that branch into the ground.
This is TRUE! Cut a healthy branch off of a living Moringa tree,
“plant” the branch where you want it (just stick it in the ground!)
and give it some extra TLC, then voila, another Moringa Tree!
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Cultivate - To prepare and use land for crops or gardening.
Bouille - The French word for boils, but is used in Benin as the
name for their porridge.
Harvest - The process or period of gathering in crops.
Germinate - The process which plants, fungi and bacteria emerge
from seeds and spores and begin growth.
Grillage - The French word for mesh; often used in Benin as
window or door screening. It comes in both metal and plastic.
Dietary Supplement - Something added to complete a diet or to
make up for a dietary deficiency.
Douche - The French word for shower.
Loam - Soil composed of a mixture of sand, clay, silt, and organic
matter. Rich, crumbly soil with nearly equal parts of sand and silt,
and somewhat less clay.
Malnutrition - The lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having
enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things (Inadequate
or unbalanced diet), or being unable to use the food that one does
eat (Problems with digestion or absorption or certain medical
conditions)
Some other facts that are important to note:
Starvation is a form of malnutrition.
You may develop malnutrition if you repeatedly lack of a single
vitamin in your diet.
Severe acute malnutrition requires urgent care consisting of
therapeutic diets along with medical care.
Manuring - To apply manure to land.
Neem - A tropical Old World tree that yields mahogany like
timber, oil, medicinal products, and insecticide.
Pagne - Pronounced “ponya” is the French word for a piece of
cloth used as clothing.
Pépinière - A small plastic bag in which seeds are planted to be
sold or transplanted.
Glossary
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29
Piment - The French word for chili pepper. These are often found
at markets across the country.
Plumpy’nut®
- Plumpy'nut is a peanut-based food for use in
famine relief. It is a registered trademark of Nutriset, the
manufacturer.
Some other facts that are important to note:
UNICEF purchases 90 percent of the supply from Nutriset for
humanitarian aid.
It is a ready-to-use therapeutic food (foods, like this are known
as RUTFs) used to treat people with severe acute malnutrition.
A two month Plumpy'nut regimen for a child cost $60 in 2010.
Pruning - To trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or
overgrown branches or stems, esp. to increase fruitfulness and
growth.
Sachet - The French word for bag, commonly used in Benin when
referring to a small black plastic bag.
Sarcler (or sarcler-ing) - The French word for weed, or weeding.
Sapling - A young tree.
Sow - To scatter or plant a seed or crop for growth.
Taproot - The large single root of plants such as the dandelion,
which grows vertically downwards and bears smaller lateral roots.
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Natural Pesticides
Materials
1 metal basin and cover (for overnight)
1 strainer (flour sifter, etc)
1 ball/bar of soap grated (dish soap works best and is least
dangerous to plant life – available in almost all super marches)
Hefty amount of neem branches with leaves OR
Mature neem seeds OR Whole or powdered piment
To use neem, collect mature seeds, wash and remove the husk,
and allow to dry completely.
Take twelve handfuls of dry seeds (or use 500 grams per 10 liters
water) and grind them into a fine powder. Mix the powder in 12
liters of water and soak overnight. Strain the liquid, add soap and
apply to plants with watering can. Follow same with leaves but
crush leaves first and soak at least 8 hours.
Collect two handfuls of chilies and dry (or buy piment in the
Marché, easy!)
Grind into a fine powder, taking care not to inhale too much of the
highly irritating dust, mix with 2 liters of water and soak overnight.
Add small amount of soap and apply to plants with watering can.
Appendix
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Resources Dhakar, Ram Chand et al. “Moringa: The herbal gold to combat
malnutrition.” Chronicles of Young Scientists. 2.3. July-September
2011. Print.
Fuglie, L.J. “Combating malnutrition with moringa.” Church World
Service: Development potential for moringa products. October 29-
November 2, 2001. Print.
Hassan, Fatima Al Guinaid et al. “Moringaolifera: Nature’s Most
Nutritious and Multi-Purpose Tree.” International Journal of Scien-
tific and Research Publications. 3. 4. April2013. Print
Moyo, Busani et al. “Nutritional Characterization of Moringa
(Moringa olifera Lam.) leaves.” African Journal of Biotechnology.
10.60. 5 October 2011. Print.
"Moringa Tree." News and Updates. N.p., n.d. Web. Sept. 2013.
Fuglie, Lowell J. The Miracle Tree: Natural Nutrition for the Tropics
Training Manual. Dakar, Senegal: n.p., 2001. Print.
"Severe Acute Malnutrition." WHO. World Health Organization,
n.d. Web. Sept. 2013
Rice, Andrew (2 September 2010). "The Peanut Solution". New
York Times Magazine. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
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This Moringa Starter Kit is made possible by the support of the American People
through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) The
contents of this Kit are the sole responsibility of Peace Corps Benin Volunteers and
do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
Contributors The Moringa Initiative Team 2013 - 2014
Please feel free to contact any of the Moringa Initiative Team
members if you have questions.
You can also contact Peace Corps Benin’s Food Security Peace
Corps Volunteer Leader at [email protected].
Heather Pace …………………………………….. [email protected]
Cara McGraw ……………………………………….… [email protected]
Devon Abt …………………………………………………. [email protected]
Drew Dilts ………………………………………………..… [email protected]
Kelly Baug …………………………………………………………... [email protected]
Kelly Dale ………………………………………………… [email protected]
Rachel Leeds …………………………………...…. [email protected]
Zoe Crum …………………………………………...…… [email protected]
Thank you to Suzie Ahn, Ed Wäisänen and all of
the Peace Corps Benin staff who helped bring this kit to life.
Notes
Published: September, 2013
