Moringa Farm progress details

ZEZE MORINGA OLEIFERA PROJECT

A TECHNICAL ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2013

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background Information

Moringa Oleifera project at Zeze village is an idea which developed as the result of inner discussion between Benedicto Hosea and John Löfström based on the plant’s benefits. The idea started in 2011 from where discussion and research continued to identify potentials of the plant and available opportunities. In 2012 the idea transformed into action whereby infield work activities were commenced through involvement of the community at Zeze village the area selected for project initial.

Significant influence of the project enactment has been Nutritional values the plant does to human and animals, economic potential and environmental advantages. All these together intensified us establishment of the project at the selected area as to continue evaluating moringa oleifera potentials to rural community as nutritional, income and degradation solution.

Establishment of the project

Moringa Oleifera project was established at Zeze village with cooperation of three proposers who are Benedicto Hosea (Tanzania), Johan Löfström (Sweden) and Anastassia Gogunova (Ukraine). The mutual agreement for establishment of the project was ratified in 2012 whereby donations for seeds were made and training of the community participants did not excluded. Establishment was based on Vision, Mission and Objectives statements which provided us with operational arrangements.

Participants

The project purpose is to enable rural community improve their living conditions by employing natural nutrition values moringa has, therefore rural communities were involved in the initiation of the project.

At the start of the project, fourteen (14) participants were involved as Table 1 below presents.

Table 1: List of involved in the project at Zeze village

No.

Full Name

1	Benedicto Hosea
2	Fabian Mlenga
3	Obed Lupepo
5	Yona Paulo
6	Kasian Benjamin
7	Sospeter Vitus
8	Hosea Ntibikema
9	Meshaki Sanda
10	Mashaka Gasper
11	Huruma Yohana
12	Jeremia Dickson
13	Dismas Athanas
14	Meshaki Gaspar

Procedures and Methods

v  Preaching of the idea to individuals,

v  Leading individuals to participation,

v  Classroom attendance and training community on the values of moringa, and;

v  Individual ambassador to the other.

Project strategy

v  Encourages individuals to use their own land for moringa oleifera,

v  Free seeds distribution to farmer, and;

v  Training on procedures of field management individually.

CHAPTER TWO

ACTIVITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Feasibility Study

On 19^th November 2012 four groups were built to conduct feasibility study to identify presence and suitability of farms admitted for moringa cultivation. On 2^nd October 2012, inspections of the farms were made whereby about 25 acres were surveyed and identified suitable for moringa cultivation.

Mobilization of the Community

Community members mobilization started in the mid July 2012 which resulted into the first meeting held at Zeze village that was attended by 11 people. The campaign went on after the meeting which produced understanding personnel who used to be good ambassador to the entire community on the advantages moringa has and soliciting participation in implementation of the project.

From 21^st July to 24^th September 2012, 14 peasants were well trained on moringa values, cultivation procedures and farms management/maintenance which was the result of effective mobilization and finally resulted into farm clearance and other works related to the project plan.   

Farms Cleaning and Preparation

These activities started effectively on 8^th October 2013 in groups whereby implementers were able to meet at ones farm and do a clearance and preparation for planting moringa oleifera. The plates below show people at Zeze preparing the farms for Moringa plants whereby 27 acres were prepared to 13^th December 2012.

Seeds procurements and distribution

There has been phase three of seed buying and distribution to peasants. These phases have been managed as grants for seeds procurements were collected from different sources.

In November 2012 there were seeds procurement from small moringa growers in Dodoma region in Tanzania where by about one suck was bought costing a sum of – Tshs. The seeds were therefore mailed to farmers in Kigoma region especially to Zeze village in Kasulu district of Tanzania. Within November 2012, seeds were distributed to growers for planting.

Another phase was held in December 2012 whereby packed seeds were bought from Moringa Consaltancy Company Limited from Arusha Tanzania, costing 110,000Tshs. In December 2012, seeds were distributed to tillers for planting on land which was prepared for Moringa growing.

Finally we have bought seeds for the farm planting for the season of 2013/2014 on December 2013 after we have received seeds fund. Seeds have procured from a moringa grower and supplier in Dododma and have distributed and planted in December 2013.

Planting and Monitoring

Effective planting of moringa oleifera at Zeze farms commenced in November 2012 whereby there were seeds planted directly in row pits and other planted on a separate plot for transplanting. The planting density was divided into two sections whereby two acres were planted at the density of 2 ft from pit to another in rows and 1 meter from row to row. The main aim of this density was to see how much leafs and seeds can be harvested in a year per acres. The expectation is to yield high leaves and minimum seeds.

The second distance used to plant is that of 2x3 meters which gives enough space to yield much seeds and less leaves. It is also allows inter cropping that is our concern to test how potential could it be in favor of other crops like leguminous.

We have been making follow-up to see how long it could take to start rising from the pits and the observation revealed that it starts after 14 days from planting day.

According to the area characteristics, regardless whether seeds have soaked into water or not, it should take 14 days to rise despite that there are some seeds those will germinate earlier and other will remain underground up to a month without getting out of the soil. As we have been monitoring the field, not all seeds will viable or grow after its germination. Some seeds did not get out at all and other got out but did not go up and dried.

The reasons which affected germination were;

Ø  Much water as rainfall was too much in the season of 2012/2013 at the area,

Ø  Earthworms did destroy some seeds, and

Ø  Not all seeds planted were good enough to plant and rise

Procedures used

Ø  Boring holes/pits of ½ feet deep in the selected intervals,

Ø  Soaking seeds into water overnight,

Ø  Inserting seeds into pits, and

Ø  Pits filling with soils (not with many soils)

Planting did not apply any form of fertilizer whether organic or chemical manures, we want natural growth and observe how it will improve soil despite the soil itself is fertile enough.

CHAPTER THREE

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND OBSERVATION

Plants Growth

Moringa Oleifera is the plant grows fast according to various articles and publications but according to our maintained fields/farms, there have been normal growth. Since germination of the plants in November and December 2012, it went to two feet above after three and four months instead of two months.

There are several factors which have observed for the slow growth of Moringa oleifera at the area which are;

Soil characteristics; Zeze village has loamy soils which is said to hold water for a long time and does not allow roots penetration easily comparable to sandy soils.

Much rainfall; Kasulu district receives much rainfall especially from November to May. Heavy rainfall lowers air circulation in soils leading low growth rate of Moringa oleifera. Also this factor prevents sun light emission to the land that should have geared the growth of plants.

Building a tap root; Moringa oleifera during its growth build a bulb like structure (Carrot like) which it is essential part for water storage. During its formation the growth rate stops a while but after it has developed, the growth starts afresh and it is fast than prior development.

Inadequately weeding; the farms were not all maintained accordingly in terms of weeding at time which then led to growth stagnation. Weeding would have facilitated moringa rooting system, water percolation, air mobility and soil drainage but it did not work correctly the factor for low growth rate of moringa at Zeze field.

Generally moringa growth is fast if compared to other shrubs and this is to the fact that it is the soft tree. Our farms have shown best growth and development despite that it has been so doing a while long. The photos below show the conditions.

The plates above show the trend developments of moringa oleifera at Zeze village from November 2012 to December 2013.

Maintenances

The farms have been maintained to the extent of our capabilities and where we failed we accepted the situation. In maintaining the farms we have been doing the following;

Replacement/transplanting of moringa seedlings; this has been our part of maintenance whereby we used to shift seedlings from seedbeds to the pits in which the seed did not rose. As we replaced the seedlings, we made follow-up to ensure how germination goes. It has observed that, once the seedling is transferred the shoot dries and auxiliaries buds starts on the tap root which then develop into new shoots. See the pictures below.

Seedbed                                     Transplanting                 shoot dried          auxiliary starts

Weeding and hedging also have been activities involved in maintaining the farms where by the shoots were at first cut at the height of one meter above the ground. This was done to manage the plants give more branches and the harvested or cut branches were therefore their leaves processed for use. The following pictures present weeding and hedging activities on the farms.

Even though there is a big difference between maintained and not maintained farms. The maintained have very good moringa plants while un-maintained have poor moringa plants. The situation can be compared as presented on photographs below;

The first two pictures in the left show poor managed farms and the two in right side are presenting well maintained farms. For those which have not maintained if maintained change fast to healthier as we have done and observed.

Harvesting and Processing Moringa Products

We have made twice harvest and process moringa leaves from our farms. Harvesting have been done using bush knives whereby branches have been cut and then plucking leaves from the shoots. There has been drying of moringa leaves in the cool place or out of sun where moringa leaves dry very slow and finally being grinded for use.

Moringa leaves dried for 6 days from the day they harvested in July and August 2013 and 12 days in December 2013. These differences are due to the weather conditions of the place since in July and August are in Dry season while December is wetter season in Kasulu district. The pictures below present the processes from harvesting to packaging;

The pictures above shows the processes held during Moringa leaves harvesting in December 2013 at Zeze village.

Drying Moringa without improved items/mechanisms contributed to delay in drying processes whereby some leaves can not dry well rather than getting molt. Grinding also using traditional made equipments consume much time than the use of engine machines. The following pictures show how drying and packaging was done;

The pictures above show the condition moringa leaves did during drying and when grinded maintained its green color then leaves powder packed into packets as shown on the pictures.

The Use of Moringa Products

Moringa product which has been used from this project is leaf powder made naturally from Zeze natural farms. It has been added into tea, porridge and other foods. All the users of Moringa, have valued it with how it test in foods and tea. We distributed some packets to various places/regions of Tanzania main land as to collect information on how it test and its acceptability/preference, and all who got to use it appraised it and would like always to use it as staple food. Among the areas where moringa leaf powder has distributed includes Kigoma, Njombe, Iringa and Dodoma. The following pictures present the facts;

The pictures above, the first is moringa leaves powder on a source pan, the second is powder added into hot water to make tea and the last one is a complete preparation for break fast.

CHAPTER FOUR

PROJECT IMPACTS EVALUATION

Social Impacts

Economic Impacts

Environmental Impacts

Challenges

CHAPTER FIVE

WAY FORWARD, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Way Forward

Every work is tedious at initial stage that needs moral, financial and technical support to encourage activities implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Thus, it is due matter to those who are interested in serving rural poor communities to contribute their knowledge, skills, materials and funds in the processes of enabling the project get prosperity development at the starting area then to the rest areas where long lasting impacts should be achieved.

Conclusion

Recommendations

REFERENCE

APPENDICES

Outcome Mapping

Financial Statement