Suzanne has left some of our village leaders, gobsmacked

A few months ago, Suzanne our latest volunteer told us about the spectacular nutritional claims of the Moringa tree and asked if she could introduce it to the community during her stay if they were not already aware of its immense properties. If, like us, you have never heard of it, its potentials will just amaze you. The Moringa tree or horseradish tree or Mlonge tree (in Swahili) is best known for its exceptional usefulness as a food and medicinal plant. Nearly every part of it can be used in one way or another to benefit humans and provide food and other valuable materials for farming and fuel needs. And best of all it grows best in arid and semi-arid areas, exactly where it is most needed.
We agreed of course, thinking that surely they will already know about this; indigenous knowledge is still strong in rural Africa. Well apparently not so in this case. Oh they know the tree, they use it for fuel. But they did wonder why some eight years ago a man from Arusha asked them to grow Moringa trees and sell him the leaves. Three years later, it all suddenly stopped and the trees were just left to be.
So the Moringa tree project got launched and 3000 seedlings are now doing well, waiting to be transplanted in November on RWDA’s land. Plans are being drawn to best exploit this rich resource which is also very fast growing. Suzanne then had the good sense to have informative leaflets done and to distribute them in Ilongero and surrounding villages. She said that a meeting with elders and leaders genuinely seem to leave them gobsmacked. On another occasion, a whole primary school got to hear about the miracle tree because their teacher was so impressed. I can’t think of a better way to ensure parents get to know. Moringa trees will now be part of our ongoing projects at the training centre; to educate about its various uses, to show villagers how to grow it and exploit it and perhaps to get a few businesses going. Thank you Suzanne, what a great contribution.