Farmers in the Southwest Region would in September this year benefit 3500 seeds of the Moringa oleifera plant from the US Charity Trees for the Future Cameroon Program. The decision comes four months after Trees for the Future Cameroon Program initially donated seeds of the plant Moringa oleifera to farmers in Southwest Cameroon and the farmers began testifying the goodness of Moringa oleifera (moringa), to their health and their families and pleading for more seeds.
The farmers were speaking recently to the Trees for the Future Cameroon SW Coordinator, Ms. B. Tata during an evaluation session in some local communities notably Ikiliwindi, Bangem, Ekambeng, and Fiango. Trees for the Future Cameroon in February sensitized these communities on the medicinal value of Moringa and gave them seeds of the plant. The farmers in turn planted these seeds and consumed the young leaves as tea. When Ms. B. Tata visited these communities four months later, she was thrilled with the testimonies she got from farmers. “Since you told us about that plant Moringa, it has become a permanent tea for my household. From that time till now, none of my children has been sick of fever and catarrh as has always been the case during rainy seasons” Mr. Kum Simon, a farmer in Ikiliwindi told Ms. B. Tata.
Another 65-year-old farmer Ma Ngoh, said that after consuming the ‘Moringa tea’, the frequency with which she used to fall sick reduced significantly. She noted with excitement; ”I have weeded and harvested all of my maize this year without taking a tablet thanks to that plant Moringa”.
In Bangem, just like in Ekambeng, the story is the same. “There is one of my daughters who complained frequently of fever but because of the plant Moringa, she has not visited the hospital in the last 8 weeks” said Mr. Primose Metuge, a Bangem based farmer.
A farmer from the Fiango community, Mua Bernard, on his part, revealed that he has always been losing quail birds in the past years during the transition from dry to rainy season but after incorporating Moringa leaves with quail feed, he registered just 2 deaths down from an average of 16. The Farmers now call it ‘miracle stick’.
Research has shown that the nutritive content of Moringa, aids in boosting the immune system, which help fight diseases in the human body. Its leaf is the most nutritive part as it contains vitamins B, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, manganese and protein, among other essential nutrients. The Moringa leaf contains 3 times the potassium in bananas, 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the calcium in milk, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 2 times the protein in milk, 13 times more vitamin A than spinach 2,500 times more amino acids than green tea, 242 times more amino acids than an apple, 3 times the potassium found in bananas and 4 times the fiber of Oats.
According to an Author, Monica G.Marcu in one of her books “Miracle Tree”, Moringa Oleifera contains more than 92 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants. Moringa is said to cure about three hundred diseases and almost have all the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables. With all the health benefits of this miracle herb, it can easily be termed as the most nutritious herb on Earth. With all these potentials, little wonder why many have termed it “The miracle tree”
By Limbi Blessing Tata
