adminDumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
ONE of Matabeleland North Province’s most enterprising women farmers, Mrs Shandu Gumede has entered into a lucrative moringa outgrower scheme with a United Kingdom firm which will see her exporting one of the tree’s by-products to Europe next year.
Mrs Gumede entered into an agreement with the United Kingdom based company, which she was not at liberty to disclose early this year. The farmer has already planted 35 000 moringa plants at her farm and expects to harvest its leaves before the end of January next year.
“I did a research on moringa and realised that it was one of the herbaceous plants that one can cultivate and fortunately I managed to seek an overseas company which has interests in its leaves for the production of capsules as it has medicinal properties. It also plays an important part as a food supplement.
“I have so far planted 35 000 trees and I am looking forward to gradually increasing the number to 50 000 and I expect the leaves to be ready for harvesting after 90 days. Thereafter, as the tree grows it can be harvested after 30 to 35 days. I expect to send my first shipment in January. The company, which contracted me also funded me to start the project,” said Mrs Gumede.
Moringa plant is beginning to gain more popularity as a new “superfood” for its highly nutritious profile and powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tissue-protective properties.
It has become popular as a leaf powder supplement, although the pods, roots, bark, flowers, seeds, and fruits are also edible.
It is also used as a traditional remedy for many ailments.
“I urge those with large tracts of land to embark on moringa planting because it has a lucrative market in the United Kingdom and South Africa where it is sought after by a number of pharmacists as well as holistic medicine practitioners,” said Mrs Gumede.
Mrs Gumede, who was the first farmer in Matabeleland North to pioneer the successful growing of tobacco in 2013 after decades, said she was making plans to construct a drying room and to embark on fully fledged beneficiation and value addition of Moringa.
“Before I start exporting I want to ensure that my product meets all the bio-security measures, this includes drying the leaves under hygienic conditions and the samples have to be checked by the requisite body to ensure they comply with international standards.
Online Reporter