Moringa green revolution: A path toward wellbeing and prosperity
It all began in May 2016 when life took an unexpected turn. A family member faced the daunting diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, given a mere six months to live.
Rejecting conventional chemotherapy, she embarked on a journey through natural herbal remedies. Among these, the Moringa tree emerged—a silent hero in the realm of holistic healing. Intrigued, she incorporated Moringa powder into her regimen, and the results were astonishing.
A treasure trove of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals, Moringa’s benefits range from being a nutrient-rich energy source to a solution for global food and malnutrition challenges. The journey uncovered its anti-aging properties, antioxidant richness, and role as a natural multi-vitamin medicine cabinet.
With Mariko Gifford: Marking National Moringa Day on April 18
The connection strengthened, especially since Moringa flourished in the heart of Sri Lanka. The more research undertaken, the more evident it became that Moringa had the potential to transform lives, families, and communities.
Determined to learn more, a journey to California unfolded. After ten days of intensive training on a Moringa farm, I had certification as a Moringa Ambassador from ‘Moringa For Life’.
Damayanthi Joan Lee among Moringa
2018 witnessed the transformation of family land in Kanniya Trincomalee into a thriving Moringa haven. Armed with insights from California, 1000 Moringa trees took root, symbolizing the beginning of a green revolution. The journey evolved into a communal effort. Collaborating with local war widows, women, children and schools, the focus shifted to supplying, teaching, and empowering through home gardening with sustainability at its core. Passion turned into a commitment to educate.
Moringa is more than a mere dietary supplement, it can present a holistic approach to well-being – Moringa leaves/leaf powder, seedlings, trees, seeds, oil and even Moringa-infused products like biscuits, bees honey, compost, livestock fodder and soap. It also extends its influence across various domains: from utilizing its seeds for water purification and nitrogen fixation to enriching soil, to its potential applications in agriculture and industry.
As the journey progressed into 2020, the dream expanded. The aspiration became not just personal wellness but a collective one. The vision? A Moringa tree in every home.
Confronted with challenges such as the physical loss of organic matter, exposure to toxic chemicals, biological imbalances (including deceased microorganisms), structural issues, and fluctuations in acidity or alkalinity, as well as the detrimental impact of pollutants and excessive flooding—our soil fertility faced a notable decline, a process commonly referred to as degradation. To address these pressing concerns, I undertook a Soil Foundation Course led by Dr. Elaine R. Ingham at the Soil Food Web School in the USA where the comprehensive curriculum covered various aspects, including soil biology, bio complete composting, compost tea and extracts, microscopy soil testing and an introduction to permaculture.
Applying the principles gleaned to the soil on my farm yielded remarkable results. Within a year, we witnessed a tangible improvement in soil biology, the establishment of a robust soil structure, and a transformative overhaul of our entire farm.
In April this year, Mariko Gifford, affectionately known as “Moringa Mamma,” from California who has 25 years of expertise in growing and nurturing Moringa made a visit to Sri Lanka as part of a global effort to expand the Moringa movement. From April 19 -23, she led the inaugural Moringa training course at the Moringa Farm in Kanniya, Trincomalee.
A meeting with Sisira Jayakody, then State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Rural and Ayurveda Hospital Development, and Community Health proved fruitful and his ministry became an indispensable partner in organizing and promoting the inaugural National Moringa Day on April 18, 2024. Moringa Day was celebrated with immense enthusiasm, marking a significant moment in our journey. Across the island, communities united to plant trees, share knowledge, and celebrate Moringa.
Moringa’s benefits range from being a nutrient-rich energy source to a solution for global food and malnutrition challenges
As I journey deeper into Moringa’s potential, I am more determined than ever to see it thrive in Sri Lanka. The vision of a “Moringa Green Revolution” is not just a dream—it feels like a true path toward restoring our nation’s wellbeing and prosperity.
We are currently in the process of creating a Sinhala-language documentary with documentary filmmaker, Wasantha Kulathunga on Moringa, enriched with English and Tamil subtitles. Tailored for the Sri Lankan audience, the documentary aims to educate Sri Lankans on the Moringa tree’s nutritional, agricultural, and medicinal benefits, offering insights into cultivation, uses, and the holistic value of Moringa for people, animals, and the environment.
The documentary will delve into essential topics such as cultivating the tree, utilizing its leaves, fruits, and flowers for food, as well as exploring its medical properties and the wide-ranging benefits it offers to people, animals, the environment, and the atmosphere. It will also critically examine past misconceptions and outdated practices in Moringa cultivation.
As we move forward, our responsibility to promote Moringa continues. Governments, food companies and healthcare professionals must prioritize research into Moringa’s medicinal applications. Furthermore, the food industry must embrace Moringa’s potential, driving product innovation and value addition to meet the rising global demand.
With the global Moringa market expected to reach USD 7.9 billion by 2025, Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to become a leading supplier of organic, sustainably grown Moringa. By planting millions of trees, we can not only sustain our population but also export this miracle crop to the world.
For more information please see moringaforlife.com
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