NewZ September 2005

Proof Before Blowing the Whistle

”We are not expecting miracles tomorrow,” says Farmer Organisation Support Programme (FOSUP) about the Moringa Tree’s arrival in Zambia. FOSUP will first pilot the tree’s potential in Zambia before blowing the whistle

By Manja Kamwi Information Officer MS Zambia

According to surveys and practical experience carried out in Zimbabwe the Moringa Tree holds a lot of potential for small scale farmers both in terms of generating incomes and also as an alternative food crop.

Not least it seems to have an environmental positive impact. As described in the article on page 14 the Moringa Tree has been introduced in Southern Africa as nothing less than the Miracle Tree.

But before jumping into the waves of enthusiasm over the Moringa Tree’s miracle making FOSUP wants to ensure that it can grow in Zambia and not least that the small scale farmers are properly introduced to the tree and it’s potential, and accept it.

“Our initial entry point with regards to introducing the Moringa Tree in Zambia was a need to integrate environmental issues into the small scale farmer’s activities. Economic gains from environmental interventions are an area where much needs to be done. From research carried out by our regional partners it seems that the Moringa Tree has a positive impact on the environment and can improve the soil fertility by using oil cakes as organic fertiliser,” tells Mike Muleba, who is the director of FOSUP.

Pilot the possibilities

FOSUP has studied the existing research on the Moringa Tree carefully and is constantly exchanging new information with their regional partners. It is based on this that FOSUP has decided to introduce the Moringa Tree to some selected members to pilot its possibilities in Zambia.

“We need to be sure that the tree can grow here in Zambia and also where it can grow. Already there has been some piloting in Southern Province, which is a very dry part of the country and it seems that the tree is drought resistant or specific elevations. But we will have to find out how the tree will do in various places such as low, medium and high rainfall areas.”

And not least FOSUP wants to ensure that the crop is properly introduced to the small scale farmers, who are the ones supposedly to be benefiting of the tree.

“We are planning to work through the District Farmers Associations and have already identified two, who will be piloting the project. It is not only a question about handing out seeds and an information folders on how to grow the tree. We need to integrate the whole process properly into the small scale farmers business activities if we are to see a proper outcome,” says Mike Muleba with reference to past experiences in Zambia where new crops have been introduced with great enthusiasm but never made it into the production. 

Proof before blowing the whistle

The piloting projects with the Moringa Tree will begin very soon. From there it will take some time before reliable information on its potentials such as the nutritional values of its leaves and the environmental impact is available and even longer before a possible economical impact on the small scale farmers can be measured.

“We are certain that the Moringa Tree holds a lot of potential for the small scale farmers in Zambia, but it is not fair to blow the whistle before we can document and prove it,” end Mike Muleba.