Alongside a series of malnutrition workshops in eastern Uganda. UNA Eastbourne began a new project February 2017, to support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. This goal is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
In addition the Moringa Project meets Sustainable Development Commitment 3 for ‘Good Health and Well-being’; Sustainable Development Commitment 13 for ‘Climate Action’ (the Moringa Project forms part of our tree planting programme) and Sustainable Development Commitment 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said: “To successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development we must swiftly move from commitments to action. To do that we need strong, inclusive and integrated partnerships at all levels.”
A recent African Union/World Food Programme report, estimated that Uganda loses around $899m/ per annum (around 5.6% of its GDP) as a result of sickness in workers due to poor nutrition.
Uganda suffers from high rates of malnutrition: 33% of the population have stunted growth; 14% are underweight; 5% have wasted limbs; 49% of children are anaemic; 31% of pregnant mothers are anaemic and 33% have a Vitamin A deficiency. Such malnutrition affects child and maternal mortality; educational success and susceptibility to disease. Consequently malnutrition is a huge burden on the economic and social development of Uganda.
The diagram below highlights just how prevalent malnutrition is in Uganda.
In addition the Moringa Project meets Sustainable Development Commitment 3 for ‘Good Health and Well-being’; Sustainable Development Commitment 13 for ‘Climate Action’ (the Moringa Project forms part of our tree planting programme) and Sustainable Development Commitment 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said: “To successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development we must swiftly move from commitments to action. To do that we need strong, inclusive and integrated partnerships at all levels.”
A recent African Union/World Food Programme report, estimated that Uganda loses around $899m/ per annum (around 5.6% of its GDP) as a result of sickness in workers due to poor nutrition.
Uganda suffers from high rates of malnutrition: 33% of the population have stunted growth; 14% are underweight; 5% have wasted limbs; 49% of children are anaemic; 31% of pregnant mothers are anaemic and 33% have a Vitamin A deficiency. Such malnutrition affects child and maternal mortality; educational success and susceptibility to disease. Consequently malnutrition is a huge burden on the economic and social development of Uganda.
The diagram below highlights just how prevalent malnutrition is in Uganda.
Prevalence of malnutrition in Uganda
For decades the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been promoting the Moringa Tree as a valuable source of minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids to reduce micronutrient deficiencies.
A micronutrient deficiency is a lack of essential vitamins and minerals required in small amounts by the body for proper growth and development.
Since 2000 the Ugandan government and some NGOs have attempted to introduce the tree to certain districts in Uganda.
Eastbourne UNA has been working with rural communities in Uganda for 15 years now. It has been obvious that the benefits of this remarkable tree have not yet been appreciated at the grassroots hence, its nutritional benefits have not been realised. Our scheme hopes to reinvigorate earlier efforts with new approaches.
A micronutrient deficiency is a lack of essential vitamins and minerals required in small amounts by the body for proper growth and development.
Since 2000 the Ugandan government and some NGOs have attempted to introduce the tree to certain districts in Uganda.
Eastbourne UNA has been working with rural communities in Uganda for 15 years now. It has been obvious that the benefits of this remarkable tree have not yet been appreciated at the grassroots hence, its nutritional benefits have not been realised. Our scheme hopes to reinvigorate earlier efforts with new approaches.
Jonathan Masette, Forestry Officer at BRDC, Mbale with Moringa seedlings ready for distribution at the health workshops Mbale
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2500 healthy Moringa seedling – part of the 6000 Moringa seedlings being prepared for distribution in July 2017 through the UNA Eastbourne Moringa project in Eastern Uganda
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Tom, Forestry Assistant at Namabasa community plant nursery with 2500 Moringa seedlings ready for distribution at the health workshops Mbale district
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What does the scheme involve?
- Coordinating with local development institutions, district officers, schools, health clinics and farmers (these links are already established through our tree planting programme).
- Pilot schemes will be trialed in five districts: Mbale; Sironko; Bulambuli; Kumi and Namutumba.
- Focus will be on engaging village communities via women’s groups, health clinics and through school science teachers as agents of diffusion.
- Workshops will provide information on the growing, harvesting and preparation of moringa, the supply of free seedlings and educational material.
- Facilitators in the village communities and schools will be informed of: the methods of growing, pruning the tree, how to harvest, prepare and store the leaves and how to incorporate into their diets.
The pilot scheme lasted 18 months, from February to July 2017 and was then progressively extended to provide moringa seedlings to many rural schools, primary health clinics and women’s group in the communities. Workshops were also conducted to ensure not only successful planting programmes but also workshops on the best practices for using the leaves of moringa in diets and best methods of preparation to maintain maximum nutrients in cooked leaves. Educational materials were distributed, many in local languages and, capacity was built for organisational structures to ensure continuing diffusion of the Moringa oleifera as a vital nutritional source for community health.
Progress Report 2018-19
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Regular field reports have continued to show that interest in Moringa has been maintained and reports from our plant nursery, the Bungohko Rural Development Centre in Mbale, report that further seedlings have been distributed. The only negative observation in the field is that some communities have allowed Moringa to grow into trees rather than keep them to less than 2m in height to maintain maximum leaf production (see photo). However, it has been useful for some Moringa to grow to full height in order that seed production allows further distribution of seedlings to more customers. The next full review of the Moringa programme will be conducted in February 2021.
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Moringa tree 14 months after planting. Past optimal height for leaves but useful for seed collection
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