Moringa pdf download

Moringa therefore requires a well-drained loamy or sandy soil for optimal Direct seeding growth. Seeds must be sown at a maximum depth of 2 cm. Deeper seeding will greatly reduce The land should be slashed where necessary and all unwanted materials removed from the germination rate.

One or two seeds per pit can be sown. When seeds are expensive the field. If planting density is high, the land must be ploughed and harrowed to a or difficult to acquire, a better option is to plant one seed only and to wait two weeks maximum depth of 30 cm. Then, the empty spaces are refilled. When the seed quality is pits and refill them with the soil.

This ensures good root system penetration without more uncertain or the seeding period not optimal, use two seeds per pit. In this case, the pits must be 30 to 50 cm 30 cm. This must be done carefully to avoid damaging the root system of the remai- deep, and 20 to 40 cm wide. When refilling the pit, mix the soil with manure. Transplanting seedlings produced by direct seeding is not advised, as there For the farmer producing moringa on a large scale it is recommended that soil and is a high risk of damaging the taproot.

Moringa seeds germinate 5 to 12 days after seeding. If the seed has not germinated after two weeks, it will not and must be replaced.

If neither of the two seeds ger- minate, the pit must be opened to check if there is a localized insect attack ants or 3. Propagation termites. If this is the case, the pit must be treated with a neem leaf solution or, better yet, with neem oil mixed with soapy water.

Then seeding can be done again. Moringa can be propagated from seeds or from mature cuttings brown wood. Planting Suitable containers are polyethylene bags or sacks prefilled with damp loamy soil po- pularly known in Ghana as "Top soil". Sowing depth should be no more than 2 cm. For leaf production, several options can be considered. Seeds should germinate within days after sowing. Place the bag s in a slightly shaded area and where they are protected from heavy Intensive production rains.

If this is not possible, make a set of small incisions on the polybag to serve as drains to avoid water logging. Water the seed every 2 to 3 days depending on the The spacing of plants should be 15 x 15 cm or 20 x 10 cm, with conveniently spaced dampness of the soil, ml of water applied to each bag is recommended. At this alleys for example: every 4 meters to facilitate plantation management and harvests.

One can also space the lines only 30 cm apart and sow at a larger distance on the lines 10 to 20 cm. These intensive systems are appropriate for commercial pro- Watering must be done with extreme care to avoid collapse of the feeble plant due duction but require careful management.

Weeding, manuring and disease prevention to pressure. Collapsed plants must be suitably supported. The young moringa plants require more skill because of the high density. Remove the polythene bag when transplanting ensuring that the roots of the plant are not damaged.

Semi-intensive production Plants are spaced 50 cm to 1 m apart. This is more appropriate for small-scale farmers Propagation by cuttings and gives good results with less maintenance. Hard woodcuttings of one meter long and at least 4 to 5 cm in diameter can also be used for propagation. When planted, one third of the stem must be buried in the soil.

Agroforestry Plants produced with cuttings will not have a deep root system and will be more sensitive to wind and drought. Cuttings are also more sensitive to termite attacks. Moringa trees can be sown in alleys and associated with other crops.

The distance between moringa rows must be 2 to 4 meters, and they must be oriented East-West to ensure that intercrops receive enough sun. It is better to associate crops that can enrich the soil in minerals, especially in nitrogen like leguminous plants such as groundnut, soy or beans.

Seed production Spacing must be much wider for fruit or seed production. Trees must be at least 2. Line and peg using a 3 x 3 meter triangular pattern for seed-producing farms. This will optimize plant population density. Caring for the plants Moringa requires a lot of care and maintenance to produce the expected yields. Shaping the trees As Moringa oleifera tends to produce long branches that grow vertically and pro- duce leaves and fruits only at their extremity, yields will be low if the trees are left to grow naturally.

The tree can grow to heights of about 3 to 4 meters in the first year and continue to about m thereafter. It is therefore essential to give the trees a good shape when they are young, by enhancing lateral branching thus creating bushy growth. Moringa in agroforestry. This will promote the growth of many lateral branches, increase yields irrigation, with a lower production during the dry season.

Pinching can be done with the finger nails as the stems are tender. Cutting in the internodes will cause the rotting of the It is also possible to irrigate only when water is available and to stop production during stem all the way down to the node below the cut, and will give way to diseases and the dry season.

Weeding Irrigation Manual weeding with a hoe removes weeds and loosens the soil for good aeration. Moringa can germinate and grow without irrigation if it is sown during the rainy Weeding must be done regularly to avoid competition for nutrients, especially for ni- season. Its tuberous root develops in twenty days and allows young plants to endure trogen.

If not weeded properly, the trees produce fewer leaves and the leaves at the drought. However, for optimal growth, it is advisable to irrigate regularly during the base of the plant begin to yellow. Weeding must be more frequent when the plantation first 3 months after seeding. Irrigation is also necessary to produce leaves all year long, including during dry seasons.

It is advisable to weed an adult plantation at least 4 times a year, with a higher frequency Another option is to stop producing during these periods: the trees will shed their lea- during rain seasons.

At the onset of the rains, a good pruning and adding some organic A good option is to leave the weeds on the soil as a mulch to reduce evaporation and manure will ensure that the trees start producing many new branches and leaves. Burying them is not necessary as tropical soils have a very low capacity Any suitable irrigation system can be used e. It is better to let the weeds progressively enrich the soil as drippers. Ideally, irrigation should be done in the early morning, night or evening, to they decompose.

Burying plant residues must be especially avoided on sloping terrain, reduce evaporation. If water is scarce, mulching or a very superficial weeding will also to limit soil erosion. Weeding must be done early enough so that no seeds develop on the weeds. If fruits and seeds are present, weeds must be removed from the field. This also reduces required. This can be done at each harvest, if the leaves are removed by cutting all the weed growth.

If leaves are harvested by plucking, or if the trees are left unharvested during the dry season, the bushy shape can be lost and a good pruning must be done at the onset of the rainy season. In Niger, the trees are cut Fertilizing down to 20 cm above the ground once or twice a year.

If the main stem is too thick, terminal branches can be cut down as in the initial pruning. In any case, it is important Moringa can produce large quantities of leaves, but only if it receives enough organic to cut just above a node to reduce rotting of terminal parts. Its leaves are rich in proteins and minerals, which means that the soil needs to provide enough nitrogen and minerals to the plants. In seed-producing farms, pruning helps induce more fruits, as well as larger fruits.

Break the terminal bud when the plant is about one meter high to stimulate branching. Instead of chemical fertilizer, farmyard manure animal dung mixed with plant residue or compost plant residue left to decompose on a heap can provide the necessary nu- trients as well as improve the soil structure. The best fertilization is ensured by mixing 6. Pest and Disease control fast decomposing residue animal dung, green and soft plant residue with slow de- composing residue straw, dry plant residue and thin branches.

Fertilization must be done during land preparation, before seeding. After it is important Insects to apply manure or compost at least once a year, for instance before the rainy season, The most common pests are grasshoppers, crickets and caterpillars. These insects when the trees are about to start an intense growth period pruning can also be done bite and chew parts of the plant, causing the destruction of leaves, buds, flowers, at this time. If there are two rainy seasons, two applications are advised.

These outbreaks are frequent in dry zones where moringa leaves strongly attract insects. It seems that these outbreaks occur at the beginning of the dry season when insects cannot find other tender, green material to feed on. The best solution, in this case, is to cut back the trees, leaving no green part apparent.

The following growth is very vigorous if conditions permit sufficient water supply. Concerning the Lepidoptera caterpillar, it is imperative to detect the outbreak at the beginning, at the shoot centre, in order to act before it is too late.

Spraying must be aimed at the centre and the extremity of the shoots to reach the young caterpillars. It must be ingested to be activated, with no impact on humans, wildlife or pollinators. The waiting period before harvesting is only three days.

This insecticide is a good alternative to chemical products, is authorised in organic farming and has the advantage of a being a guaran- teed preparation. Other brands exist like Delfin or Scutello.

These products should be stored, if possible, in a cool place, at least protected from strong heat. Neem extract can also be used against insects, if it is sprayed in time. These diseases are by far the most serious in moringa farming. This is caused by the fungi Cercospora spp and Septoria lycopersici.

The bowls are filled in the morning, turned up side Alternaria is also frequent: angular, dark-brown spots with concentric circles appear down against the soil, the edges slightly buried and covered with a handful of dry leaves on the leaves.

Black or brown marks appear on the branches as well. The fungus is to maintain coolness. These traps should be checked every 24 to 48 hours. The onset of the disease is hard to detect. Once the spots If synthetic insecticides have to be used, choose the least toxic, like pyrethroids have appeared it is often too late to treat and defoliation is inevitable.

It is therefore Decis, Karate, Klartan. They remain active for 20 days or more, even in hot or windy important to remember the periods when the symptoms appeared to be able to act conditions. Pyrethroids kill Lepidoptera eggs. Allow a 7-day minimum waiting period earlier the following season. The effective, inexpensive products to use in both cases before harvesting, 14 days if the leaves are to be eaten raw.

Avoid reapplying more are made from either mancozeb or maneb. The leaves and young shoots should be checked regularly for symptoms of fungal attacks. An early detection will save a lot of young plants from To find out more about phytosanitary products authorised for sale destruction. Neem leaf or seed extract can be sprayed on the plants to control pest and in CILSS countries, visit this website: fungal attacks. This treatment is not as effective as using chemical products. Neem products can be produced locally and are not toxic for humans.

The leaf extract is not as effective as the seed extract, but it can be used as well. Harvesting of shoots and leaves 3. Transportation The moringa tree has a compound leaf: one leaf is made up of multiple leaflets see Transportation in moringa leaf production is a very critical step in ensuring high photo 2, page What is referred to here as a leaf is precisely multiple leaflets attached quality leaves for consumption.

All shoots should be cut at the desired height, i. Mechanical harvesters could also be used for large-scale, intensive leaf Leaves can be tied together in bunches by their stem or better, thinly spread out on production. Harvesting can also be done by removing the leaves, picking them directly off the tree. Freshly harvested material should be transported to the processing centre as quickly as They are easily removed at the base of the petiole.

It is quicker to harvest this way but possible to avoid deterioration. For shorter therefore less vigorous. Produce should be harvested at the the fresh leaves. Avoid open vehicles. Under no circumstances should people or goods coolest time of the day: early morning or late in the evening. It is important to make be placed on top of leaves. Transportation should be during the cooler parts of the sure there is no dew on the produce before harvesting, especially in the morning, to day: early morning, evening or night.

Leaves being transported over long distances should be in air-conditioned or refrigerated vans to keep them cool until delivery at the processing centre. Harvesting of seeds In seed farms, pods should be harvested as early as possible when they reach maturity, i. Fruits should open easily. Seeds are extracted, bagged, and stored in a dry place. Moringa branches break easily; it is not recommended to climb up the tree to harvest the fruits. Stripping the leaflets Strip all the leaflets from the leaf petiole.

This can be done directly from the branches if the leaves have not been stripped off the main branch before transportation. At this stage, diseased and damaged leaves are discarded.

Washing Wash leaflets in troughs using clean potable water to remove dirt. Finally wash again in clean water. Leaves are now ready for drying. Drain each trough after each wash: fresh leaves must always be washed with fresh water. Draining Strain water from the leaves in buckets that have been perforated, spread leaflets on trays made with food-grade mesh and leave to drain for 15 minutes before taking them to the dryer.

Making moringa leaf powder. Drying There are three main methods for drying moringa leaves. Room drying Spread the leaflets thinly on mesh tied on racks mosquito net mesh can be used in a well-ventilated room. This room should be insect, rodent and dust proof.

Air circulation can be improved by using ceiling and floor level vents protected with a clean filter to keep the sun and dust out.

It is possible to use a fan, but the air must not be directly oriented towards the leaves, as it can increase contamination with germs in the air. Leaves should be completely dry within a maximum of 4 days. Therefore, we do not advise this method. The air intake should be filtered to keep out 3 4 dust.

Organza or muslin cloth can be used as a filter. The final product should be very brittle. We recommend solar drying for both small and large scale processing, particularly for those in rural communities where there is no electricity.

We recom- mend this method for large scale leaf processing as this ensures year round production. Loading density should not exceed 2.

Milling Mill dry leaves using a stainless steel hammer mill. For personal or household use, 1 2 leaves can be pounded in a mortar, or milled with a kitchen blender.

Small-scale processors can use a burr mill or rent a commercial hammer mill for routine milling of their products. Sieving Sieve the leaf powder if need be. When you mill with a hammer mill, the fineness of the product will depend on the size of the screen used in milling.

If too coarse, sift using a sifter with the desired screen size. Drying the leaf powder Moringa leaf powder strongly attracts moisture and the product can reabsorb humidity during or after milling.

Final packaging tracts moisture. In addition finely milled powder makes it easier for bacteria to penetrate the particles. The temperature and humidity must be controlled in the packaging room, to avoid re- humidification of the product. Personal hygiene Moringa leaf products should be packaged in clean, dry and opaque containers made of materials that do not affect the quality of the product. All persons involved in the packaging of moringa leaf products must ensure that, while Each package must be properly sealed to prevent content leakage as well as moisture on duty, personal cleanliness and hygiene are maintained.

Personal protective equip- absorption. Labelling 2. Packaging in bulk Each package of moringa leaf product must be legibly marked with the following information: The temperature and humidity must be controlled in the packaging room, to avoid re- a Name of product humidification of the product.

This is enclosed in a second polythene bag and heat-sealed. This is d Country of origin to maintain freshness and dryness prior to further use. Nutritional content of fresh moringa leaves Moringa oleifera leaves belong to the family of dark green leafy vegetables, a food group particularly rich in nutrients.

This makes it even more beneficial as a fresh vegetable since grams of fresh leaves will bring twice as much nutritive material as grams of most other vegetables. Graphs 1 to 5 on page 50, show the nutrient content range of moringa leaves, com- paring them either to foods high in these nutrients or to other leafy vegetables.

These graphs show that the moringa leaf is a food particularly rich in nutrients compared to other healthyfoods. The moringa leaf is not the only leafy vegetable in this category: others such as amaranth and cassava leaves also have comparable characteristics. Moringa promotional poster in Niger. These values leaves compared to other food products 18 for grams of fresh matter can vary according to many factors such as environmental conditions soil, climate , fish - meat farming methods irrigation, fertilizers… , maturity of the leaves dark green, mature 16 leaves are generally richer than light green, young ones , harvesting season, and to 14 a lesser extent, the genetic background of the trees.

Nutritional content of dry moringa leaf powder Another way of consuming Moringa oleifera leaves is to dry them and reduce them into powder, making it easier to store and use at any time. Even if a large amount of the vitamins are lost during drying and storage, the leaf powder still constitutes a very rich nutritional supplement, since it is a concentrate of the leaves see table 6.

Table 6 1 2 Mean nutritional values of grams Moringa oleifera leaf powder. Copper Cu 0,,1 mg For optimal nutrient retention, it is advised to consume fresh leaves shortly after har- Vitamins vesting and to cook the leaves for a short time a few minutes only , or even to eat them raw if they are young and tender. Vitamin E as a-tocopherol mg 1 Tasting a moringa dish Togo. Values for grams of powder. Moringa leaf powder can be stored for some time before it is consumed. For this reason, it is advised to package leaf powder in rather small Moringa leaf powder can be used somewhat like dried spirulina, a nutritionally rich, containers.

Table 7 compares the nutritional value of the two plants. Nutritional content of cooked moringa leaves 4. Water soluble and fat soluble vitamins Fresh moringa leaves can be eaten raw, if they are very young and tender, but usually Vitamin C and all the B vitamins contained in the moringa leaf are water-soluble. For this reason, it is important to consider a-tocopherol. This can be achieved by associating moringa leaves with other benefit from the vitamins B and C, soluble in water.

In addition, to render the fat-soluble ingredients that enhance the availability of nutrients, by cooking the leaves only for vitamins A and E available, it is suggested that the leaves be cooked using oil or other a short time, or by keeping the liquid water, sauce in which the leaves are cooked.

Using moringa leaf powder is also a way of preserving nutrients although some have been lost during drying and storage , as the powder can be added to food after Ideally, the leaves should be quickly boiled in a small quantity of water. Add both leaves cooking. This way both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, only slightly diminished by cooking, are made available.

This branch of research has opened way to preserve the vitamin C content. Iron The bioavailability of nutrients is the ability they have to be digested and used by the human body. The bioavailability of the iron provided by plants is lower than when provided by meat. A good way to improve the availability of iron to the body is to add vitamin C to the dish. This can be done by using lemon juice, lemon peel or fresh tomatoes.

AVRDC demonstrated that boiling moringa leaves in water enhanced the in vitro iron bioavailability of fresh leaves and dried powder by 3. In addition, boiling moringa leaves in water enhanced aqueous antioxidant activity. This shows that cooking moringa leaves does not necessarily have a negative impact on nutrient intake.

The heat destroys some of the vitamin C, but improves the assimilation of iron. The best option is to vary consumption modes. Its production creates employment, requires little financial investment and can be cultivated without using chemicals. The keys to a successful farm are pruning the trees to obtain bushy leaf-growth and regular but limited amounts of water and organic manure. By following these recommendations, a moringa plantation can produce leaves in abundance all year-round.

Sun drying is an inexpensive, effi- cient method used to obtain quality results. Milling does not require specific equipment; the mills widely used in Africa are perfectly adapted. Packaging has to be airtight and lightproof. The fundamental aspects of processing are hygiene and humidity control to ensure that the leaf powder stays perfectly dry until packaging.

Moringa leaves are an inexpensive source of proteins, vitamins and minerals for developing countries. Dried and milled, moringa leaves are easily stored and used by families who can then add the powder to their daily meals. The powder can also be used by food businesses to enrich their products in nutrients.

Moringa is categorised as a leafy vegetable like the leaves of the baobab, manioc, sweet potato, amaranth and hibiscus. These local leafy vegetables, either cultivated or collected, are all highly concentrated in nutrients.

Their use had for a long time been shadowed by European vegetables considered more modern, such as cabbage, carrots etc. Though today, African consumers are showing a rising interest for these leafy vegetables, not only for their low cost but also for their taste and health benefits.

The importance research programmes and NGOs have given these products, before consi- dered outdated, has also contributed to revamping the image of local leafy vegetables. This increase in interest for local foods and culinary traditions is part of a worldwide trend.

It is also unable to absorb vital nutrients or convert them to energy rich in potassium, copper and B complex vitamins. Studies essential for healthy tissue formation and organ function. Current treatment for children deficiency such as vitamin A and protein deficiency. The Moringa leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A, All of them were de-wormed with Albendazole at the the raw leaves are rich in vitamin C and they also have beginning of the study.

Moringa leaves were harvested vitamin B and other minerals. These vitamins and minerals and dried at a low temperature not under direct sunlight are required for body building, energy as well as blood ensuring the nutrients remained intact in the leaf tissue.

The Moringa leaves rank Once dried, Moringa leaves were pulverized into a fine among the best of perennial tropical vegetables as a source powder-like consistency, making them easy for usage. Every tenth thoroughly demonstrated its ability to bring about rapid day the weight was recorded for each of the intervention recoveries from moderate malnutrition.

While successfully and control group. The weights of these children at the treating malnutrition is good, preventing it is much better. Comparison was made Moringa oleifera tree has probably been one of the most between the recorded weights of the intervention and underutilized tropical crops. Leaves of M. In developing tropical countries, Moringa trees have been used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers. The major advantage of using Moringa leaves in this study is the fact that it is a local resource.

They Africa. In , the Church World Service office in Dakar grow rapidly as the plant matures and are easily available. As one of the rare trees whose leaves rapid recoveries from mild and moderate malnutrition. Price ML. The Moringa Tree. Fuglie LJ. Church world service, 68 pp; revised in and published as The Miracle Tree, Multiple Attributes of Moringa, pp. The Moringa leaf powder can be effectively utilized for pdf [Last Accessed on 13 March ].

Combating malnutrition with Moringa. Bot J Linn Soc Moringa: The herbal gold to combat malnutrition. Chron Young Sci ; Fighting malnutrition with Moringa oleifera leaves: an untapped resource. Busani Moyo, Patrick J. Masika, Arnold Hugo and Voster Muchenje. Babu SC. Rural nutrition interventions with indigenous plant foods: A case and to all the children and their mothers who participated study of vitamin deficiency in Malawi.