Moringa oleifera, also known as the drumstick tree or horseradish tree, has numerous health benefits and potential for improving farmers' incomes in Nigeria. It contains high levels of nutrients and antioxidants. Research shows that all parts of the Moringa plant can be used for traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The speaker proposes improving the Moringa value chain in Nigeria to help small farmers earn more from cultivating and processing Moringa. This includes teaching best practices for production, processing, and marketing Moringa products locally and internationally where demand is growing.

1. MORINGA OLEIFERA, VALUE CHAIN IMPROVEMENT FOR
GREATER FARMERS’ INCOME IN NIGERIA
PRESENTED AT: Sustainable Agricultural Development Training Scheme (SADTS)
Nigeria, Tuesday, 11 May 2021

2. Sidi Rana Menggala
• Researcher at Ghent University Belgium
• Founder of CinnamonTalk
• Founder of Spice Land Indonesia
• Director of Agriculture ADIafrica
• Fellow of LEAD International

3. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
• Improving Cinnamomum Burmannii Blume Value Chains for Farmer Livelihood in Kerinci, Indonesia (Q3)
• Improving Indonesian cinnamon (c. burmannii (Nees & t. nees) Blume) value chains for Greater Farmers Incomes (Q3)
• Sustainable harvesting of Cinnamomum burmannii (Nees & T. Nees) Blume in Kerinci Regency, Indonesia (Q2)
• The Effect of Geographical Indications (GIs) on the Koerintji Cinnamon Sales Price and Information of Origin (Q1)
MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBLrM737PE4
https://www.sciencefiguredout.be/story-cinnamon

4. APPROACH
From science to Action. From problem identification becoming (1)
Indonesian National Standard (SNI), (2) SOP Value Chain Non-Profit
Organization
1 2

5. CASE STUDY : MORINGA, NIGERIA

7. Ever heard about the mystical miracle plant or the plant referred to as ‘the tree of life’?
These are the descriptions given to the remarkable MORINGA plant “Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) as a result of its
numerous health benefits.
This mystical plant has been in existence for over hundreds of years. Who would have ever thought so as an underutilized
species? I never would have, until about a few years ago when I listened to an elderly man give so much praises to the plant.
He called it God’s perfect gift to humanity and talked about how it had been therapeutically helpful in the treatment of a
number of ailments ranging from diabetes to high blood pressure, gout, cancers and many more. I decided to read up on this
mystical plant and its several health benefits and indeed, it’s a gift to humanity.

8. NIGERIA has a valuable but largely untapped reservoir of
indigenous agricultural and natural resources experiences
and knowledge. Today, many indigenous knowledge practices
are at risk of becoming extinct because of rapidly changing
natural environment and fast pacing economic, political and
cultural changes on global scale. An agricultural value chain is
a network of participants that work at various stages ranging
from production to consumption of commodities (Jacques H.
Trienekens, 2011).
Moringa oleifera has the potential of being adopted as food
for humans as well as a ruminant fodder for livestock
production, in addition to crop production. Consequent,
upon which small farmer income is raised, enhanced food
security and livelihood sustainability.
Over 40% of the inhabitants of countries like Burkina Faso, Niger and Ghana use medicinal plants. In Nigeria, over 90%
of the rural population and over 40% of urban settlers depend on traditional medicine (FAO, 2011).
Moringa oleifera is known across the country. Such names include Zogale (Hausa), Son-bishi, Zogale (Fulani); Ewe-
Igbale, Ewe-Iba, IgiIgbale (Yoruba); Agbaje, Npataka, Zele, Okwe-Olu, Okwe-Oyibo, Odudu-Oyibo (Ibo); Jeelegede (Tiv);
Geregeji (Igala); Zogala (Kamberi). It is obvious that within some linguistic groups, the plant has more than one name
(Stevens C. O., Ugese F. D. & Baiyeri K. P, 2015).

9. Source: Stevens C. O., Ugese F. D. & Baiyeri K. P (2015)

10. There are over 1.5 billion acres of arable, uncultivated land throughout Africa, 70% of the world’s poor live in rural areas and
the majority are smallholder farmers, and the tropics thrive with plants that can serve as both food and cash crops. Yet,
limited resources, a lack of affordable value-added processing technologies, and a disconnection from the global market
prevent rural farmers from utilizing their land and crops to their full potential.

11. SCIENTIFIC CHARACTERIZATION (MORINGA OLEIFERA)
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Violes
Family: Moringaceae
Genus: Moringa
Species: Oleifera
MORPHOLOGY
Moringa is a slenderical tree that branches freely and can be
enormously fast growing. Although it can reach heights in excess of
10m, so it is generally measured a small to medium size tree.
Tripinnate multiple leaves are feathery with green to dim green
elliptical leaflet are 2cm long. The tree is often mistaken for a legume
because of its leaves, prominent, lightly fragment flowers are borne
on inflorescence 10 - 25cm long and are for the most part white to
cream color, in spite of the fact that they can be tinged with pink in a
few varieties. The fruit is a tri-lobed shell and is often referred to as
‘pod’. Immature pods are light green and, in some verities, have
reddish color.

12. ECOLOGY
Moringa oleifera grows well at lower elevations. In East Africa it is found
up to 1350 m altitude, but its adaptability is shown by a naturalized
stand at over 2000 m. It is drought tolerant and is found in locations with
as little as 500 mm annual rainfall. It can be grown in a wide range of
soils but fertile, well-drained soils are most suitable. Light frost is
tolerated. It grows best in direct sunlight under 500 m altitude. It
tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers a neutral to slightly
acidic (pH. 6.3-7.0), well-drained sandy or loamy soil. Minimum annual
rainfall requirements are estimated at 250 mm with maximum at over
3,000 mm, but in waterlogged soil the roots have a tendency to rot
(DANTATA, I.J et.al, 2015) .
HUMAN RESOURCHES
The Moringa Farmers and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
mentioned that a part of an effort to tackle unemployment challenges
in the country, it is set to engage over 300,000 youths across the
country in Moringa farming.
The target shall involve 500 youths per each of the 774 local
government areas across the country, to cultivate and sell the plant in
view of its high demand both locally and internationally. The project
already took place in an area of 10,000 hectares of land in Nasarawa
State since 2020

13. Plant part Traditional use
Leaves Antibacterial infection, urinary tract infection, HIV-AIDS, fever, hepatic, antitumor, anti-
hypertensive, thyroid, diarrhea, dysentery, ulcer, headache, antioxidant, protein, iron deficiency,
vitamin (mineral deficiency, lactation enhancer, catarrh and scurvy.
Root Dental caries/toothache, common cold, fever, asthma, diarrhea, flatulence, epilepsy, hysteria
headache, gout, low back/kidney pain, scurvy
Bark Dental caries/toothache, common cold, sore/ulcer, antitumor, snakebite, scorpion bite, digestive,
epilepsy, hysteria, headache, birth control and scurvy
Flowers Throat infections, common cold, antitumor, rheumatism, tonic abortion, hysteria
Gum Skin cancer, anti-hypertensive, diabetes, joint pain.
Seeds Warts, antitumor, ulcer, rheumatism, arthritis, mineral/vitamin deficiency.
Exudates Dental caries/ toothache, syphilis, typhoid, earache, fever, asthma, dysentery, headache,
rheumatism.
TRADITIONAL MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA
Source: K.Chaudhary & S. Chaurasia (2017)

14. https://tripale.com/moringa-oil-is-all-
over-2021-cosmetic-industry-the-
guardian-nigeria-news/
https://guardian.ng/business-
services/farmers-to-kick-off-n9-
billion-moringa-plantation/
https://guardian.ng/features/how-to-
maximise-potential-in-moringa-
farming-value-chain/
MEDIA MAGNET “A large number of Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese
companies are all over the country, searching for Moringa
seeds. In fact, some Chinese companies pay some farmers for
the seeds ahead of the harvesting period”.

15. CROP PRODUCTION OF MORINGA OLEIFERA
Land clearing, preparation and
planting
Moringa is a drought-tolerant crop
that performs exceptionally well in
semi-arid ecologies. However, it needs
regular watering to perform optimally.
Seedlings, seeds and improved varieties
There are improved varieties of moringa. They
are said to be improved on two grounds. One,
they are early-maturing, starting to produce
fruits from around four months. The second
reason they are classified as improved is that
they are higher-yielding than the older
varieties.
Weed management, manure or
fertilizer application
Managing weed infestation is crucial
on a moringa farm, as weeds compete
with the economic trees over
micronutrients required for healthy
growth and fruiting.

16. Harvesting / Stripping
Strip all the leaflets from the leaf petiole. This can be
done directly from the branches if the leaves have not
been stripped off the main branch before
transportation. At this stage, diseased and damaged
leaves are discarded.
Leaves from high density moringa fields can
be harvested after plants grow 1.5–2.0 m, which
usually takes at least 60 – 90 days in well drained fertile
soils. Harvest leaves by cutting leaf stems manually
with a sharp knife (Fig. 15-18) at 20 - 45 cm above
ground. Subsequent harvesting can be done every 35-
40 days.
Processing
I. Washing the Moringa leaves
Wash leaflets in troughs using clean potable water to remove
dirt. Wash leaves again in 1% saline solution for 3-5 minutes
to remove microbes. Finally wash again in clean water. Leaves
are now ready for drying. Drain each trough after each wash:
fresh leaves must always be washed with fresh water.
II. Draining the Leaves
Strain water from the leaves in buckets that have been
perforated, spread leaflets on trays made with food-grade
mesh and leave to drain for 15 minutes before taking them to
the dryer.

17. DRYING THE MORINGA LEAVES
There are three main methods for drying moringa leaves.
ROOM DRYING
Spread the leaflets thinly on mesh tied on racks (mosquito net mesh can be used) in a well-ventilated room. This room should be
insect, rodent and dust proof. Air circulation can be improved by using ceiling and floor level vents protected with a clean filter to
keep the sun and dust out. It is possible to use a fan, but the air must not be directly oriented towards the leaves, as it can
increase contamination with germs in the air.
It is advisable to turn the leaves over at least once, with sterile gloves, to improve uniform drying. Leaves should be completely
dry within a maximum of 4 days. The loading density should not exceed 1 kg/m2.
SOLAR DRYING
The solar dryer presented in the pictures is recommended but the polyethylene used should be uV treated or opaque (if the
plastic is black, beware of temperature increases and be sure it does not go above 55°C). The air intake should be filtered to
keep out dust. Organza or muslin cloth can be used as a filter.
Spread the leaves thinly on mesh and dry in the dryer for about 4 hours (Temperature range is 35°C–55°C on a very sunny day).
The final product should be very brittle. We recommend solar drying for both small- and large-scale processing, particularly for
those in rural communities where there is no electricity. Loading density should not exceed 2 kg/m2.
MECHANICAL DRYING
Using electric or gas hot-air dryers. Drying temperatures should range between 50°C and 55°C. If temperature exceeds 55°C,
leaves will "burn" and turn brown. Leaves should be dried until their moisture content is below 10%. We recom- mend this method
for large scale leaf processing as this ensures year-round production. Loading density should not exceed 2.5 kg/m2.

18. SIEVING
Sieve the leaf powder if need be. When
you mill with a hammer mill, the fineness
of the product will depend on the size of
the screen used in milling. If too coarse,
sift using a sifter with the desired screen
size.
Recommended moringa powder particle
sizes are:
Coarse ( 1.0 mm – 1.5 mm)
Fine (0.5 mm – 1.0 mm)
Very fine (0.2 mm – 0.5 mm)
MILLING
Mill dry leaves using a stainless steel hammer mill. leaves can be
pounded in a mortar, or milled with a kitchen blender. Small-scale
processors can use a burr mill or rent a commercial hammer mill for
routine milling of their products.
TECHNOLOGY USE FOR MORINGA PROCESSING

19. MORINGA LEAVES PROCESSING MORINGA SEEDS PROCESSING

20. Moringa oleifera flowers Moringa oleifera leaves
Moringa oleifera fruits
Moringa oleifera seeds
Moringa oleifera Root
Moringa oleifera gum
CASH CROP MORINGA OLEIFERA

21. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/moringa-ingredients-market
GLOBAL MARKET OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

22. Based on the KBV research (2019), that the global Moringa Ingredients Market size is expected to reach US 120,3 million by
2026. The global Moringa Products Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% from 2020 to
2027.
GLOBAL MARKET - MORINGA : HS Code: 121190

23. The Moringa plant is increasingly popular in the European market for food supplements. The plant’s dried
leaves are marketed for a wide range of health benefits, based on their high level of antioxidant activity and
chemical composition. The rapidly increasing global demand for Moringa now offers opportunities for people
in the value chain to venture into large scale production even as scientists keep making new findings on the
health benefits of the plant.
(https://venturesafrica.com/mastercard-and-kasha-strengthen-commitment-to-empower-women-and-
support-micro-entrepreneurs-in-africa/)
EUROPE MARKET - MORINGA : HS Code: 121190

24. MORINGA OLEIFERA
• Various laboratory researches have confirmed that
Moringa is a natural energy booster, strengthens the
immune system, has antibiotic properties, cures
headaches, migraines, asthma, and ulcers, reduces
arthritic pains and inflammations, and restricted
tumour growths.
• Moringa flowers boiled with soymilk have always
been thought to have aphrodisiac quality.
• Scientific reports say that studies of the Bureau of
Plant Industry (BPI) showed that a steady diet of the
Moringa fruit boosts the sperm count of men, which
improves their chances of fertilising an egg.
• Nutritionists say, the Moringa plant has more iron
than “Kontonmire” and contains seven times the
Vitamin ‘C’ in oranges; four times the calcium in milk;
four times the Vitamin ‘A’ in carrots; two times the
protein in milk and three times the potassium in
banana.
• Moringa can also detoxify the body given its ability to
purify water by attaching itself to impurities and
harmful bacteria and allowing them to be expelled as
a waste.
Structures of selected phytochemicals from Moringa spp.: [1] 4-(4’-O-acetyl-α-L-
rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate, [2] 4-(-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl
isothiocyanate, [3] niazimicin, [4] pterygospermin, [5] benzyl isothiocyanate, and [6] 4-(α-L-
rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl glucosinolate Fahey[1] (used with permission)
[source Olufunmilayo E. Adejumo, et. al 2012]
*There is a growing global interest in the use of Moringa to address malnutrition because it is
readily available and inexpensive. In Africa, it has become popular as a locally produced
nutritional supplement for individuals infected with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus
(HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) virus. Nursing mothers have shown to
produce far more milk and malnourished children gained more weight after the leaves were added
to their diets.

26. COMMONLY
Dried leaves are sold as dietary supplements, in either powder or capsule form. 100 g of fresh leaves contain about 9.8 g of
protein or about 17.5% of daily-required levels, as well as 7564 IU or 252% of daily-required levels of vitamin A. Dry, powdered
leaves indeed are a much concentrated source of several quality amino acids. Health benefits: ability to help lower Blood Sugar
levels; rich antioxidant property; reduce inflammation (injuries healing); lower blood cholesterol; protect against Arsenic
toxicity

27. EUROPEAN MARKET - MORINGA : HS Code 121190

28. Growing Moringa trees and supply
raw Moringa leaf
Collection of Moringa leaf (Green
and healthy leaves)
Washing : Removes all dust and
other dirt materials from the
surface of the leaf
Drying : Usually on a clean canvas
and frequently turning/stir untuk
the moisture is removed
Remove Impurities from the dried
leaf, milling and sieving (Powder
produced)
Packaging
(Packaging can be done depending
individual choice)
Retailers at
Europe
Retailers at
U.S
Derivatives product
Consumer
Product
Flow
Phase 1: Production
Product
Flow
Phase 2: Process
Phase 3: Post Harvest
(International standards & certification)
Income
Flow
Involvement of
Youth, Women &
Unemployment
Income
Flow
Training and Farm
Management
Training processing,
packaging and
marketing : Informative
website, Product
differentiation &
Consumer
segmentation
Agricultural
partner
Contract
farming
Consumer trust and loyalty
[Product recognition] – Repeat order
MORINGA VALUE CHAIN PROCESS
3F training (Food, feed, fertilizer); SOP
organic food; quality control;
certification

29. RESEARCH FINDINGS
• Critical issues in Investment, Production and Marketing of Moringa oleifera as an Industrial Agricultural raw
material in Nigeria
• Different derivatives could be produced from the Moringa plant: the dried and ground leaves could be used as tea,
vegetable staple in soup, capsules, etc.; the oil from the seeds is used in perfumes, as lubricants, medicinal lotions,
etc.; the press-cake as water treatment material, etc. (Foidl et al., 2001; Adikuru et al., 2011).
• Market awareness, this is perhaps one of the most significant constraints to commercial development. It takes a lot
of effort and resources to break into the market
• Quality Control: Leaf powder, if of poor sanitary quality, can cause digestive illnesses. Counterfeit products (various
mixtures of dried leaves, even ground twigs) are also an issue. Packaging also has an impact on quality: Moringa
leaf powder, packaged in transparent bags, sold on stands in the sun, rapidly loses its most essential vitamins
(Sutherland et al., 2001).
• Regulatory approval – In Nigeria, it is no longer possible to produce a new product on a commercial scale, bottle it,
stick a label on it and offer it for sale to the general public. NAFDAC, the regulatory body for foods and chemicals in
Nigeria insists on products registration and this neither comes easy nor cheap.
Critical issues in Investment, Production and Marketing of Moringa oleifera as an Industrial Agricultural raw material
in Nigeria. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266391914_Critical_issues_in_Investment_Production_and_Marketing_of
_Moringa_oleifera_as_an_Industrial_Agricultural_raw_material_in_Nigeria

30. THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE

31. CONCLUSION
This plant has economical to all areas in Nigeria and used by many
consumers in the world due to its multiple advantages. Now a day, there is a
great demand for plant-based medicines, food supplement, health products,
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics etc. in the national and global market. However,
the major challenge now is the popularization of the plant among farmers, as
studies have shown a high level of ignorance of the plant. This will require a
well coordinated programme involving policy development, research in such
areas as agronomy, physiology and farming systems as well as extension
services.

32. REFERENCES
• Fuglie LJ, 1999. The miracle tree: Moringa oleifera: Natural nutrition for the tropics. Church World Service,
Dakar, 68pp
• Jacques H. Trienekens, 2011. Agricultural Value Chains in Developing Countries, A Framework for Analysis.
International Food and Agribusiness Management Review Volume 14, Issue 2.
• Kanika Chaudhary and Savita Chaurasia, 2017. NEUTRACEUTICAL PROPERTIES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA: A
REVIEW. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research
• Stevens C. O., Ugese F. D. & Baiyeri K. P, 2015. UTILIZATION POTENTIALS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA IN NIGERIA:
A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT. International Letters of Natural Sciences, ISSN: 2300-9675, Vol. 40, pp 30-37
• Sunderland, T. C. H., Ngo-Mpeck, M., Tchoundjei, Z. and Akoal, A., 1999. The ecology and sustainability of
Pausinystalia johimbe:An over-exploited medicinal plant from the forests of
• Central Africa, In: Non-Wood Products of Central Africa: Current Research Issues and Prospects for
Conservation and Development. FAO, Rome, 67-77Pp
• Tesfay, S. Z., Bertling, I., Odindo, A. O., Workneh, T. S. and Mathaba, N., 2011. Levels of anti-oxidants in
different parts of moringa (Moringa oleifera) seedling. Afri. J. Agric. Res. 6: 5123-5132.
• Thurber, M. D. and Fahey, J. W. (2009). Adoption of Moringa oleifera to combat undernutrition viewed
through the lens of the “Diffusion of Innovations” theory. Ecol. Food Nutri., 48: 212-225.

33. THANK YOU
SCAN ME