Background
The project is aimed at combating malnutrition and poverty in Madagascar. The country has approximately 28 million inhabitants, and is one of the most severely affected countries in the world when it comes to malnutrition. Moringa is a nutritious tree that naturally grows in Madagascar. The tree has a wide range of uses, and represents a resource with great, untapped potential.
We want to spread knowledge about moringa and its value to as many people as possible.
Education and training are the main focus of the project, tree planting is a natural extension of this.
The idea is simple, inexpensive, and sustainable; spread the knowledge about moringa - a resource that is already available!
Main Challanges in Madagascar
Malnutrition
Chronic malnutrition is a serious problem in Madagascar. The country
ranks second worst on the 2023 Global Hunger Index. The diet in
Madagascar mainly consists of rice, which often leads to deficiency
diseases.
Nearly half of children under 5 are chronically malnourished, which
frequently results in irreversible damage to their skeleton and brain.
Many children suffer from "stunting," where height and weight are
significantly lower than the age norm. This hampers children's potential
and contributes to poverty.
Mothers are often undernourished, leading to low birth weights and an
increased risk of birth injuries. A deficiency of vitamin A can cause
blindness in newborns. Experiences from other African countries show
that supplementing pregnant and breastfeeding women with moringa powder
can improve birth weight, health, and breast milk production.
Malnutrition keeps people in poverty
Poverty
Approximately 80% of the population in Madagascar live on less than $2 a day. The country's diet mainly consists of rice and other carbohydrates, which can meet caloric needs but lack fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, leading to deficiency diseases. Rice is also a vulnerable crop in a country that is increasingly affected by droughts and extreme weather.
A diet with daily consumption of moringa leaves can have a significant impact on health and finances.
Climat
Madagascar is Africa's most cyclone-prone country, with 25% of the population living in highly vulnerable areas. A major challenge is widespread deforestation, with over 90% of the rainforests removed, primarily due to logging and expanding pastureland. This impacts the climate and has led to more severe extreme weather events, such as cyclones, droughts, and floods, which in turn cause soil erosion and loss of arable land.
Reforestation is important to prevent the effects of flooding, drought, and soil erosion.
Photo: "MG001S12 World Bank - Children on beach. Madagaskar." av Yosef Hadar, lisensiert under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0