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MORINGA UPDATE FROM CAMEROON

Below are pictures from Moringa projects in Cameroon – (TIDA)

INTERVIEW FROM CAMEROON

1) Could you begin by introducing yourself and what you have been doing in
your country?

My name is Tagne Théophile; I am a Cameroonian living in Yaoundé.

I am professional Agro technician specialised in cocoa production. I founded an association called TIDA (Association Tondji international developement) in year2000 after a sudden dearth of my employer, later we decided to promote medicinal plants cultivation after observing a lot of rural people dying for the lack of primary health centers, and a lack of financial resources to treat their diseases at the districts hospitals.

In 2003, I had a visitor from Spain, a humanist volunteer called Rafa who taught me about the Moringa and promised to send me some seeds when he was living.

2- How is Moringa used in Cameroon traditionally? And today?

In Cameroon I discover moringa in 1997 in the North of Cameroon. It grows wild and also the leaves are been used to cook soup and to feed goats and young cows.

Today, the northern people living in Yaounde and Douala are supplied by the traders coming from the north at very a high price since Moringa is unknown to the southern part of Cameroon population; some Peace Corps volunteers introduced moringa in the South Cameroon but failed for the lack of experiences. So I can say is still under utilised by the people of the North and unknown to the southern population.

3- Can you testify to the powers of Moringa? Do you have any personal
experiences with this Moringa tree?

Moringa is most powerful tree I have ever seen in my life, you know, in 2005 when I started growing the ten seeds of moringa sent to me by the Spanish humanist , I lost 7 seeds for bad quality and I succeeded 3 in the nursery, that very time there was pests killing pigs, and one day, when I was back from the market I saw my pig who was severely attacked by pests, jumped the barrier and eat two young plants and left one, I was very annoyed, but there was nothing I could do. After one week, for my surprise, I observed a positive change; my pig survived the pests and make three more years.

The remaining tree have grown up, I used it to cure 2 children suffering malnutrition and a man suffering from diabetes who offer to TIDA a plot for Moringa pilot farm at Guiffe – Bafia.

4 – Where do you see Moringa in 5, 10, 20 years? And does your plans with
moringa coincide with your projections?

I saw Moringa Oléifera in the 1980 in the Volta region in Ghana, Hohoe, then 1992 in Senegal at Borgou after African Nation cup I paid a visit to a friend, then 1997 in the extreme north of Cameroon in Mokolo, Yagoua, and Ngaoundéré in Adamaoua, as a wild tree without knowing much about the plant moringa like in 2005 till today.

I can say my plan has not yet coincide with my projection because Moringa is a dreamed tree to fight poverty in Cameroon. Today our association TIDA got a pilot farm of Moringa oléifera and planning to grow more.Visit:www.tidahumaniste.fr.gd

Also, since there was not a national structure to promote Moringa in Cameroon, I therefore initiate a union with other growers of moringa and 3 national universities researchers had joined together to create a national structure named MORINGA CAMEROUN abbreviated MOCAM under legalisation process as non profit association.

Already, MOCAM had started collaboration with Peace Corps Volunteers to develop Moringa growing projects and encourage high quality of Moringa production in Cameroon. So, I can tell you that in Cameroon we are at the beginning and more have to be done to alleviate Cameroonians suffering by using natural resources to meet Millennium development Goals in 2015.