MORINGAFACT.COM

June 23, 2009  – allAfrica.com reported a story developing in Uganda, where Moringa is planned to grow. Below is the story covered by Thomas Pere on allAfrica.com:

“Kampala — A drowning man will clutch at any straw for survival. So were the farmers in Mukono district when they embarked on planting Moringa Olifera trees in the 1990s.

Contrary to their great economic expectations, they were disappointed when it dawned on them that there was no local and foreign market as promised by the crop promoters. The trees were chopped as the farmers opted for food crops.

A nutritionist at department of Food Science & Technology in Makerere University(MUK) Dr. Margherite Kabahenda, says: “Research findings at the faculty show that moringa has many nutrients.”

Based on this study, the faculty is reintroducing the growing of moringa trees in Nakifuma sub-county Mukono district as a pilot scheme titled:”Moringa for better nutrition.”

Doreen Katama, the district agriculture officer, says: “Moringa is not new to this community. It was embraced when first introduced, but inadequate knowledge, coupled with market failure, discouraged farmers from growing it.

Insufficient research at the initiation stage was responsible for its failure, but research to revamp it has commenced.”

A lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Makerere University, Dr Edward Ssemakula says: “Unlike in the past where moringa was planted without guidelines, the scheme will train farmers in proper management. Planting would be in the form of agro-forestry, live fencing, landscaping and pure stand in a garden.”

The planting materials will be derived from seeds and tree branches.”

The above passage was retrieved from: allafrica.com link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200906240142.html