Moringa trees are being promoted as a dual solution to mitigate the impacts of climate change, while also providing an alternative source of income for families. The tree offers a range of benefits at the individual and community level, including its wide-ranging nutritional and medicinal properties and ease of planting.
The pervasive energy crisis in Zambia has led to a significant shift in the country’s energy and income sources. A majority of Zambian households now rely on charcoal as their primary source of energy and income. This has been one of the major contributing factors to deforestation and the emission of greenhouse gases, which in turn has caused climate change and an increase in respiratory diseases.
In commemoration of World Environment Day on 5 June, our Sustainable Landscape Management team collaborated with ALMUFA to pilot a reforestation project in Munenga and Itebe, two villages of the Mazabuka district in Zambia. This initiative involved the planting of moringa trees in the two villages, with the objective of establishing a moringa value chain as an alternative source of income and a means of mitigating climate change. The objective of the project is to empower the community by transferring skills and encouraging inclusivity and the concept of self-sustenance.
Self-Sustenance from Moringa Tree
In commemoration of World Environment Day on 5 June, our Sustainable Landscape Management team collaborated with ALMUFA to pilot a reforestation project in Munenga and Itebe, two villages of the Mazabuka district in Zambia. This initiative involved the planting of moringa trees in the two villages, with the objective of establishing a moringa value chain as an alternative source of income and a means of mitigating climate change. The objective of the project is to empower the community by transferring skills and encouraging inclusivity and the concept of self-sustenance.
The trees are renowned for their nutritional and medicinal properties, and they are relatively straightforward to plant and require minimal maintenance. The planting process employs a water conservation approach that utilises a mere 5 litres of water during the initial planting stage and 250-100 ml per day subsequently, with this quantity gradually decreasing as the tree grows and its roots become established. The versatility of the plant provides a multitude of opportunities for farmers, and it is our hope that, once smallholders recognize the potential for profit in selling moringa, they will cease the practice of charcoal burning.
In addition to the climate benefits, the community is particularly enthusiastic about the nutritional and economic advantages they anticipate deriving from this project. “Moringa has a multitude of benefits, including the capacity to cure disease and act as a relish, which simplifies the lives of women,” stated Precious Haabasimbi, secretary of Munenga Village. “It is imperative that we plant more trees, even as individuals within the community.”
The objective of Solidaridad is to continue analysing the adaptation of the communities while seeking buyers and off-takers in order to create local value chains that ensure the sustainability of the project.
source: https://www.solidaridadnetwork.org/news/moringa-trees-against-climate-change/