Moringa Oleifera is a slender, drought-resistant tree with an average height of about nine metres on reaching maturity. Moringa is a food, medicine and forage crop.
Uses:
The health benefits of Moringa Oleifera include the following:
– It is a strong antioxidant effective against prostrate and skin cancers, an anti-tumor and an anti aging substance.
– Moringa modulates anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes, high serum or blood cholesterol, thyroid, liver and kidney problems.
– Moringa has strong anti-inflammatory properties and ameliorating rheumatism, joint pain, arthritis, odema and lupus.
– The plant is effective against digestive disorders including colitis, diarrhea, flatulence (gas), ulcer or gastritis.
– Moringa is an Anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-viral agent, it is effective against urinary tract infection, typhoid, syphilis, tooth aches fungus, thrush and common cold, Epsetein, Burr virus, Herpes – simplex, HIV-AIDS, warts, parasites, worms, schistosomes and trypanosomes.
– Moringa is a detoxifying agent, it is effective against snake and scorpion bites. Moringa is effective against nervous disorders including headaches, migraines, hysteria and epilepsy.
– The protein quality of moringa leaves rivals that of milk and eggs. Moringa contains range of naturally occurring amino acids such as isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptohyan, valine.
– Ten non-essential amino acids which can be manufactured by the body with the help of proper nutrition are also found in moringa. These non-essential amino acids are Alanine, Arginine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, serine, praline and tyrosine.
– The leaves of moringa are highly nutritious being a significant source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium. Moringa has approximately 46 anti-oxidants and is one of the most powerful sources of natural anti-oxidants which supply the free atoms needed by the human body and mitigate the effect of free radicals.
Moringa which contains Vitamin A.B.C.E, calcium, potassium, numerous ids and other nutrients, when taken regularly, not only helps people to overcome depression but also leads to healthy life style.
The medicinal and nutritional benefits of moringa oleifera are just too numerous to mention and this has been the reason why it called the “Miracle plant of the century”.
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Demand
The demand for both the leaves and seeds of moringa oleifera are rising everyday globally because of its many uses. The export market for moringa products are very vast. The leaves of moringa plant can be dried and milled and sold, it can be made into tea, it can be cooked as spinach and can also be made as a beverage drink.
It is against this background that forward-looking investors are being encouraged to establish moringa plantation.
Plantation technical information
Moringa Oleifera can be grown in any part of Nigeria. The requirements in terms of rain and nutrients are very minimal. Moringa can be propagated either by seeds or the stem of the existing plant. You can have up to 1200 stands on one hectare of land. Serious minded investors can be assisted in the establishment of the plantation including procurement of seeds and stem cuttings. Propagation by seed has proved more reliable than the stem cuttings. Moringa is ready for harvesting from six months after planting and can be harvested for over 50 years if the plantation is well maintained.
Financial implication
To establish 10 acres plantation, a sum of N6.85 million will be needed, it is broken down as follows:
N
1. Pre-investments : 100,000
2. Land procurement : 3,000,000
3. Seeds procurement : 1,250,000
4. Land preparation : 1,000,000
5. Cultural practices : 1,500,000
Total N6,850,000
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Profitability analysis
It is possible to make a sum of N20,000 from a stand of moringa plant by selling the seeds and the dried leaves.
From five hectares of land, we have about 6,000 stands. This gives a gross income of N120 million annually. The maximum operating cost to maintain the plantation is not more than N5 million annually. This is no doubt a good source of income for Nigerians.
OLUMAKINDE ONI
