1. Prevents Malnutrition Among Mothers and Children
   Numerous studies (1) have demonstrated that the intake of moringa increases both the production and quality of breast milk. A daily supplement of dried moringa powder has proven to make a significant difference for breastfeeding mothers in Africa and Asia. Moringa consumption by mothers has also shown to have a substantial impact on children's birth weight and their rate of weight gain. Since malnutrition is one of the primary underlying issues in Madagascar, it is vital for the Moringa project to disseminate knowledge that can break the cycles of malnutrition, which trap people in poverty.

2. Increased Milk Production for Breastfeeding
   Green moringa leaves can be incorporated into any meal or consumed as tea. When dried and ground, moringa leaves produce a nutrient-dense powder with a long shelf life. The seed pods of moringa can be eaten as a vegetable when harvested early. Mature seeds are pressed to extract oil suitable for cooking. The flowers of the moringa tree are sweet and rich in nectar. These flowers can be eaten directly or used to produce moringa honey.

3. Animal Feed
   Moringa is an attractive high-protein feed for livestock. Its rich nutrient content boosts milk production in cows and goats. Broiler chickens, pigs, and tilapia fish reach slaughter weight faster when fed moringa. Trials (2) have shown that dairy cows supplemented with moringa leaves and stems increased milk production by 43-65%. Cattle fed with moringa experienced up to 32% faster daily weight gain compared to control groups on regular feed.

4. Fast-Growing Crop
   The moringa tree grows quickly and yields large harvests. Under ideal conditions, it can be harvested up to 10 times a year. In Africa, 5-6 harvests per year are common in commercial cultivation. The tree can be harvested for leaves after 5-6 months, and it flowers after approximately 8 months. Moringa is easy to cultivate from seeds or from cuttings (pruned branches). Cuttings establish roots within one to two weeks and are an efficient, simple way to propagate the tree. Cuttings are sturdier and easier to transport than small saplings.

5. Hardy, Drought- and Flood-Resistant
   Once established, the moringa tree is robust and resilient. It can withstand both drought and flooding—factors particularly relevant on Madagascar.

6. Soil Improver – Prevents Soil Erosion
   As a member of the legume family, moringa trees fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and deposit it into the soil. This makes moringa an effective soil enhancer and beneficial for other garden crops and yields, without competing for the same nutrients.

7. Water Purification
   Crushed moringa seeds have an extraordinary ability to clean water. A barrel (any container) of contaminated water becomes drinkable overnight by adding crushed moringa seed powder. This process occurs as the electrical charges in the seeds cause dirt and bacteria to settle out of the water.

8. Growth boster
By juicing fresh moringa leaves and mixing the juice with water at a ratio of 1:36, you create a highly potent growth enhancer. Experiments (2) have demonstrated that watering plants with this solution increased yields by 20-35%! Additionally, the plants developed stronger roots, stems, and leaves, produced more and larger fruits, had an extended lifespan, and exhibited greater resistance to plant diseases.

Sources

(1) Chantry, Caroline J., et al. "Use of glactogogues in initiating or augmenting maternal milk supply." The academy of breastfeeding medicine (2004).

Balde, Jennifer C., et al. "A Randomized Double Blinded Parallel-Controlled Clinical Trial On the Effectiveness of Different Doses of Moringa Oleifera (Malunggay) in Promoting Growth in Infants of Breastfeeding Mothers from UERMMMC and Different Hospitals In Metro Manila from June 2000- Jan 2001." UERMMMC Journal of Health Sciences 2002 Jan - April 5(1):21-27.

2) https://www.tfljournal.org/files/Moringa%20for%20fodder%20&%20spray%20%28screen%29.pdf