Cultivation Practices and Utilisation of Moringa oleifera Provenances by Small Holder Farmers: Case of Zimbabwe

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*Corresponding author: E-mail: gadzirayichris@yahoo.co.uk;
Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension,
Economics & Sociology
2(2): 152-162, 2013; Article no. AJAEES.2013.005
SCIENCEDOMAIN international
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Cultivation Practices and Utilisation of Moringa
oleifera Provenances by Small Holder Farmers:
Case of Zimbabwe
C. T. Gadzirayi1*, S. M. Mudyiwa1, J. F. Mupangwa2and J. Gotosa1
1Bindura University of Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science,
P. Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
2University of Swaziland, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science,
P. O. Luyengo, Luyengo, Swaziland.
Authors’ contribution
This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author CTG designed the
study, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author SMM managed
the literature searches, analyses of the study performed the spectroscopy analysis and
author JFM managed the experimental process and author JG identified the species of plant.
All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Received 25th June 2013
Accepted 31st July 2013
Published 1st October 2013
ABSTRACT
The study sought to establish the cultivation practices and utilisation of Moringa oleifera
provenances grown by small holder farmers in Zimbabwe. Focus group interviews,
questionnaires and field observations were used to collect data. The snowball technique
was used to identify farmers to be interviewed in the targeted study site. Eight focus group
discussions, in four districts, disaggregated by sex were conducted, one per district.
Questionnaires were administered to farmers who were growing Moringa oleifera trees.
Data from questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) version
9.13 in order to come up with descriptive statistics of the responses to the questionnaires.
The study established that, the common innovative cultivation system for Moringa is
mixed cropping, where Moringa is planted together with fruit trees in the orchards or
grown together with garden crops around homesteads. The leaf biomass was used as
mulch and as organic fertiliser. A significant number of farmers, 63%, use Moringa for
Research Article

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both medicinal purposes and household nutrition and, 9%, use it for household uses only
such as water purification. The main Moringa provenances grown by farmers are Malawi,
Binga and Mutoko. However, there is need for an efficient production system that
enhances full realisation of the benefits of Moringa oleifera in the small holder farming
sector.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera; cultivation; utilization; farmers.
1. INTRODUCTION
Although Moringa oleifera (Lam) has been identified as a source of food, medicine and
income in Zimbabwe, lack of adequate knowledge about its distribution, growth performance,
appropriate silvicultural management practices, genetic improvement, germplasm
conservation and the best provenances/strains that maximize its production has limited the
prospect of utilising this valuable multipurpose tree species. Moringa oleifera is cultivated
under a variety of production systems in different parts of Zimbabwe and is naturalised in
many areas including the Zambezi Valley [1]. Not much systematic research has been done
on the provenances in Zimbabwe although they are widely used by the rural people [1]. It
is therefore necessary to identify the provenances that are being grown so that farmers know
the most suitable provenances for the different ecological regions of Zimbabwe. Therefore,
the objective of this study was to identify the commonly grown provenances in different
ecozones and document the available knowledge and experience of the farmers in the
production of Moringa oleifera.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 The Description of Study Area
The study was conducted in four districts of Zimbabwe, namely Binga, Bindura, Mutoko and
Shamva as shown in Fig. 1, which represent the main areas in the country where Moringa
trees are grown. Binga district is found in Matabeleland North province, which lies in agro -
ecological Region 5. It lies on latitude 17º 45´ South and longitude 27°30´East. The soils are
a mixture of siallitics and regosols, rainfall is erratic ranging from 400 to 450 mm per annum
(Bennett, 1995). The mean daily temperature ranges from 25 - 33°C. The survey was carried
out in Wards 7,8,24 and 10 of the district.
Bindura district is found in Mashonaland Central province, which lies in agro -ecological
Region 2a. It lies on latitude 17º 08´ South and longitude 31º 21´ East. The areas covered
were Masembura and Musana communal areas. Masembura communal area has
moderately shallow (50-100cm) greyish brown coarse grained sands to similar sandy loams
over reddish brown sandy clay loams derived from granitic rocks. In Musana communal
area, the soils are derived from granitic rocks and consist of moderately deep to deep
(>100cm) greyish brown coarse grained sands over pale loamy sands and sandy loams
overlying yellowish red sand clay loams.. Bindura district receives rainfall of between 750mm
and 1000mm per annum [2]. The temperature ranges between 25-350 C. The survey was
carried out in Wards 9, 10, 13 and 15 of the district.
Shamva district is found in Mashonaland Central province which lies in agro-ecological
Region 2b. It lies on latitude 17°10´ South and longitude 31°40´ East. The soils are

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154
moderately deep to deep (>100cm), reddish brown granular clays formed on mafic rocks.
Shamva district is characterised by high rainfall of between 650mm and 1000mm per
annum. Temperature ranges from 25°C to 27°C. The wards that were surveyed included 17,
18, 20 and 28.
Mutoko district is in Mashonaland East province which lies in agro -ecological Region 3 and
4. It lies on latitude 17°10´ South and longitude 32°30' East. The mean annual rainfall ranges
from 680mm in the north and east to about 700mm in the south. Mean annual tempera ture
ranges from 20°C in the south to over 22.5°C in the north. Most of the land is frost free. In
the north and west the soils are moderately shallow to deep brown coarse grained sands
and in the south and east the soils are shallow to moderately deep (4 0-100cm) yellowish
red, coarse grained loamy sands overlying red fersiallitic sandy loams [3]. The survey was
conducted in Wards 9, 13 and 14.
Fig. 1. Zimbabwe map showing major districts where Moringa oleifera is grown
2.2 Data Collection
Purposive sampling method was used to select the districts that were studied. Focus group
discussions (FGDs), field observations, informal interviews and questionnaires were used to
collect data. The snowball technique was used to identify farmers to be interviewed in the
targeted wards. Eight focus group discussions disaggregated by sex were conducted, one
per district. FGD helped to elicit in less rigid way information on Moringa cultivation
practices.
Respondents for the questionnaire were randomly sampled. Questionnaires were
administered to farmers who were growing M. oleifera trees, and the data collected was on

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155
the source of planting material, provenances grown, propagation techniques, management,
uses and production constraints.
Direct field observations were done to validate cultivation systems, size of cultivated plots
and existing trees. This was also done to supplement and ground truth information collected
through interview discussions and questionnaires. During the field observation, farmers
involved with Moringa cultivation but not included in the FGD or questionnaires were
interviewed since they constituted key individuals in Moringa production.
2.3 Statistical Analysis
Group discussion and field observation data was analysed qualitatively through content
analysis description. Data from questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Analysis
Systems (SAS) version 9.13 and cross checked with SPSS in order to come up with
descriptive statistics of the responses to the questionnaires. The Pearson’s Chi-square test
was conducted to test the independence of variables and to determine the significance of the
associations.
3. RESULTS
3.1 Results
3.1.1 Commonly grown provenances
The provenances commonly grown by the farmers were Mutoko, Malawi, and Binga. The
highest proportion (55.22%) of the farmers cultivated the Binga provenance and the least
cultivated Mozambique (2.08%) and Tanzania (2.08%) provenances. The Chi -square test at
5% significance level showed dependence (p= 0.001) of provenance grown on d istrict. In
Bindura district Moringa provenances grown were, Binga (65.22%), Mutoko (26.09%), Moza
(4.35%) and Binga/Mutoko (4.35%). In Binga district, the provenances grown were as
follows; Binga (91.3%) and Binga/Tanzania (8.70%). In Shamva district 68% grew Binga,
60% grew both Binga and Mutoko combined, and 12% grew Mutoko and 4% Moza. In
Mutoko district farmers grew Moringa provenances that included Mutoko and Malawi
combined (76%), Mutoko (72%) and Malawi (12%).
3.1.2 Moringa cultivation systems
Fig. 2. shows that Moringa was observed to be mostly grown around homesteads, in
association with vegetables in home gardens and fruit trees in the orchard when the overall
districts information is combined. The highest proportion (70%) of farmers growing Moringa
around homesteads was found in Bindura district, followed by Mutoko (64%), Shamva (56%)
and Binga (17%) districts. In home gardens, Shamva had the highest proportion (40%),
followed by Mutoko (36%), Binga (35%) and Bindura (26%) districts. Moringa was
intercropped with garden crops in Binga district (Fig. 2.), and soil fertility was replenished
through addition of organic manure plus leaf foliage from the companion tree.

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Fig. 2. Moringa intercropped with tomatoes (Twalumba family project) in
Binga district
In Bindura district, 69.57% of the farmers grew Moringa around homesteads, 26.09% grew in
home gardens and 4.35% in orchards. In Binga district 47.83% of farmers grew Moringa in
orchards, while 34.78% grew in home gardens and 17.39% grew around homesteads. In
Shamva 56% of farmers grew Moringa around homesteads, 40% grew in home gardens and
4% in orchards. In Mutoko district farmers’ cultivation practices were as follows, 64% around
homesteads and 36% in home gardens
There was a significant (p=0.001) positive relationship between, around homestead
cultivation practice and district. In the four districts, the majority of farmers (52.08%), grew
and cultivated Moringa around their homesteads than other places.
3.1.3 Moringa propagation methods
Farmers established Moringa through seed and cuttings or a combination of both methods.
Propagation by seed was the most popular (72.92%) method in all districts. A small
proportion (7.29%) of farmers in Binga and Shamva used both methods as ways of
propagation. All farmers in Mutoko used seed for propagation. There was a significant
relationship (p=0.001) between district and seed propagation method. Thus the majority of
farmers in various districts preferred the seed propagation technique.
3.1.4 Time of planting
Most farmers in all districts plant Moringa during the rainy season. The highest proportion
(71%) of all farmers plant Moringa during the rainy season and the least (7%) during the dry
season and 22% plant Moringa any time of the year. The majority (10.42%) of famers
growing Moringa all year round are from Binga district. There was a significant relationship
(p=0.001) between district and time of planting. That means famers in all districts preferred
to plant Moringa tree during the rainy season.

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3.1.5 Plant spacing
Plant spacing used by farmers when growing Moringa ranged from 30 cm apart to as wide
as 5 m apart. Plant spacing of 1m x 1m was popular with farmers and a spacing of 4m x 4m
least popular. In Mutoko closer spacings of 1m x 1m were most popular. Most farmers in
Binga used wider spacings of 5m x 5m. In Bindura, farmers planted the trees scattered
without any specific spacing. There was a significant relationship (p=0.001) between district
and plant spacing. Farmers across districts generally used spacing of 1mx 1m.
3.1.6 Pest and diseases encountered by farmers
Farmers experienced problems with sap sucking insects (red spider mite and aphids), leaf
eating insects (caterpillars) and termites. There were no diseases encountered except blight,
in Mutoko. The highest proportion of farmers (30%) encountered no pest and disease
problems. Most farmers in Shamva had no problems except a few (8%) with problems of
caterpillars (leaf eating pest) and in Mutoko, caterpillars and termites were the most
troublesome. There was a significant relationship (p=0.001) between district and pest and
diseases prevalence.
3.1.7 Harvesting techniques
Farmers harvested Moringa by pruning leaves and pods from the tree branches, pollard
branches, remove bark from the stems or cut back the tree less than 30 cm above ground
level and utilise the cut tree parts. The most widely used method to harvest Moringa fresh
leaves and tender pods is by plucking them from the tree, 75%, and the least, 7.29%, is
removing bark. In Mutoko all the farmers harvest by plucking leaves and pods. There was
interdependence (p=0.001) between district and harvesting method. Thus each district h ad
own harvesting method (Fig. 3.).
Fig. 3. Harvesting technique among districts
Bind
ura
Bing
a
Sha
mva
Mut
oko
Distr
ict
total
%
0
0
0
0
Prune leaves and pods
8.33
17.71
22.92
26.04
75
Pollard
1.04
1.04
0
0
2.08
Remove bark
0
0
1.04
0
1.04
Cut back
11.46
3.13
0
0
14.59
Prune leaves and remove
bark
3.13
2.08
2.08
0
7.29
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Percent

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3.1.8 Frequency of moringa harvesting
Most farmers harvest Moringa when they need to use it. The highest proportion, 48 %, of
farmers harvested Moringa whenever they need to use it for household consumption or for
other purposes. In Bindura district, the bulk of the farmers harvested once a week (52%).
There was interdependence (p=0.001) between district and harvesting frequency. Therefore
the frequency of harvesting was not uniform among districts.
3.1.9 Fresh moringa leaf yields
The highest proportion (61%) of the farmers had no knowledge of their fresh leaf yields from
their trees. Most of those who knew harvested less than 200 kg per annum but in Binga
some farmers harvested in excess of half a tone. There was a significant relationship
(p=0.001) between fresh leaf yields and location. However majority of farmers, 61%, were
not sure of their yield levels.
3.1.10 Moringa leaf powder yields
Bindura produced 10 – 19kg of leaf powder. The highest proportion (67%) of farmers in
Mutoko produced 40 kg or more of leaf powder. There was no significant relationship
(p=0.229) between leaf powder production yields and location. Though leaf powder yield
varied from one district to the other, no single district was outstanding in terms of the powder
production levels.
3.1.11 Moringa bark powder yields
The highest proportion (60%) of the farmers who produced bark powder was from Binga,
with Bindura contributing 40%. Binga district had the highest yields. There was no bark
powder production in Shamva and Mutoko. There was no significant relationship (p=0.233)
between bark powder yield and location. Bark production levels did not vary significantly
from one location to the other.
3.1.12. Utilisation of moringa
Farmers use Moringa for treatment of skin rashes, goiter, headache, toothache, diarrhoea,
sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhoea and syphilis), high blood pressure, asthma, snake
bites, boost immune system for HIV people and also as an aphrodisiac, and for household
uses, such as relish, leaf powder for making teas or adding into porridge or different dishes,
seed for cooking oil extraction and water purification, and tree is also used for ornamental
purposes. From focus group discussions, Binga farmers revealed more uses of Moringa than
any other district with practical evidence.
The highest proportion (63%) of farmers use Moringa for both medicinal purposes and
household nutrition and a few (9%) use it for household uses only. There was
interdependence (p = 0.001) between district and Moringa utilisation. Bindura district used
Moringa mainly for medicinal/household purposes, whereas majority of farmers in Shamva
used the tree for medicine and for Binga farmers it was used for household and medicinal
purposes. There was no one common use to which Moringa was put to.
Farmers did not state the use of moringa in livestock feeding or as fodder in their response
to the open ended question, but cattle and goats naturally fed and destroyed Moringa plants.

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4. DISCUSSION
4.1 Distribution and Variability of Provenances Grown by Farmers
Malawi, Mutoko and Binga provenances, are the most commonly grown Moringa trees, while
the Tanzania and Mozambique provenances are marginally grown in the four districts. The
Binga provenance was cultivated by majority of the farmers. This provenance is the most
widespread in the country [1] and its seed has been widely distributed to farmers [4]. Most
farmers in Mutoko cultivated Mutoko and Malawi provenances. Malawi provenance was
brought by ICRAF for cultivation in home gardens/nutrition gardens. The major
provenances, Binga and Mutoko, are commonly grown in their areas of naturalization. Other
provenances were only cultivated where planting material was availed.
4.2 Experiences on Moringa Cultivation Practices
Farmers in the four districts grew Moringa scattered around their homesteads, in home
gardens and family orchards. A significant proportion grew the tree around the homestead
(Fig. 1) as it is easy to plant one or two trees at the backyard. Home gardens were mostly
managed by women who intercropped the tree with garden crops. The trees would benefit
from irrigation water and organic manure added to enhance soil fertility of the garden crops
hence reducing the need to apply inorganic fertilizers. In return the garde n crops benefit from
the partial shade of the tree [5].
Most small holder farmers in the four districts have no efficient production systems as in
other countries like India, Hawaii, Ethiopia, Niger and northern Nigeria [6] where improved
models are now in use. The farmers in those countries have taken Moringa to the fields and
grow it intensively for leaf and pod as a crop unlike in Zimbabwe. Building on these new
models can be a relevant approach to improve and extend Moringa leaf production in
Zimbabwe.
4.3 Moringa Tree Production Trends
Majority of farmers have small pieces of land under Moringa production (less than 5 trees
per household) at their homesteads. This concurs with [7] who found out that in Kenya more
than 90% of small scale farmers in the major growing areas had a tree or two each in their
backyards. Farmers with a substantial number of trees (more than 20 trees per household)
were prevalent in Binga where the tree has been grown for quite a long time [1]. These
farmers had sourced planting material from NGOs [4]. This is in contrast with some farmers
in India and Nicaragua where they produce own planting material and run many hectares of
well managed Moringa plantations [8].
In Ethiopia most farmers own at least 20 trees per household grown together with home
garden crops or in association with field crops [9] as opposed to most farmers in Zimbabwe
who own one or two trees. Though in Nigeria farmers have more trees per household, they
have stopped planting more trees due to limited spac e [10]. Many farmers in Zimbabwe
became interested in the tree when they were given the hope that it can reverse HIV/AIDS
infection [4].

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4.4 Propagation of Moringa oleifera
Farmers propagated Moringa mainly through seed and cuttings. Seed propagation was the
most preferred technique across the four districts. However, most farmers in Binga district
used both, seed and cuttings, propagation techniques.
The other reason for preferring seed to cuttings could due to the fact that most farmers
(71%) planted Moringa during the rainy season instead of spring season when shooting from
cuttings is more effective due to warm climatic conditions that encourage growth and root
development. Also farmers avoid the spring season since there will be a lot of stray animals.
During planting, a plant spacing of 1m x 1m was most preferred by farmers, though wider
spacings of up to 5m were reported in Binga district. Wider spacings practised in Binga
district could be due to the marginal rainfall received (450mm/annum).
4.5 Pests and Diseases
Farmers from all districts did not experience major pest problems, and rarely encountered
disease problems except for blight incidence, in Mutoko. This concurs with [11] who
indicated that Moringa tree is resistant to most disease and pest challenge.
4.6 Harvesting
Harvesting techniques used were tailor made to the intended plant use. Farmers either
pruned leaves, pollard branches, remove bark from the stems or cut back the tree and utilise
the cut parts. Harvesting of the bark was rarely done in all surveyed districts. That could be
because the bark was not frequently used. The most widely used harvesting method of fresh
leaves and tender pods is by plucking (Fig. 2).
The majority of farmers (48%) harvested Moringa whenever they need to use it for
household consumption or for medicinal purposes. As such, harvesting was done once per
week particularly by those farmers who used Moringa as a vegetable. The average cutting
height was 90cm though some farmers would cut to about 30cm above ground level.
4.7 Moringa Yield
The majority of farmers, 61%, could not quantify fresh leaf yields from their Moringa trees.
That could be attributed to the fact that Moringa cultivation is taken as a sideline to the main
crop or animal production system. However some farmers harvested in excess of half a tone
of fresh Moringa leaf from their trees that were scattered ar ound their homesteads.
As for the leaf powder, farmers produced between 19 to 40 kg per home stead with an
average of three Moringa trees per location. Greater than 60% of farmers from Binga district
harvested the bark for medicinal purposes. However they could not give the quantities of
bark harvested. That could be due the fact that harvesting was only done when the need to
treat some ailment arises. Therefore no record keeping was done to quantities harvested.
On seed harvesting, farmers got an average of 20kg per homestead per year. Most farmers
were not into seed production. That could be linked to the fact that little use was made of the
seed except for those in Binga who used it for water purification.

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4.8 Uses of Moringa
Farmers grow Moringa around homesteads so as to have a ready source of medicine and as
wind breaks. The tree is at times incorporated with field crops and remains standing after
harvesting of annual and biennial crops thereby helping to reduce the rate of soil erosion
since it continue to bind the soil. The tree is grown as a vegetable plant in dry parts of the
country. Thus helping to nourish people in low rainfall areas during time of famine as well as
sustaining the environment through provision of ground cover throughout the year. Further to
that, Moringa flowers provide a valuable source of nectar for honey bees with subsequent
increase in crop production through improved pollination. The seed is used in water
purification due to its coagulant chemical properties similar to Aluminium sulphate [12].
Moringa seed also lowers bacterial levels in drinking water since it is bactericidal. That
concurs with [13] who confirmed that dried and crushed seeds of Moringa lowers
concentration of bacteria and fungi in muddy and turbid water, making it suitable for drinking.
Most rural farmers in Zimbabwe get their water from unprotected wells and springs, therefore
Moringa becomes a valuable resource in clarifying drinking water. The highest proportion of
farmers, 63%, use Moringa for both medicinal purposes and household nutrition, and 9%
use it for household uses only. Therefore Moringa offers a cheap source of medicine to
farmers.
5. CONCLUSION
The study established that Malawi, Mutoko and Binga Moringa provenances are widely
grown in Zimbabwe for medicinal and water purification purposes. The trees are grown
scattered around homesteads and in gardens in companion with fruit trees or vegetables.
There is need to develop efficient Moringa production/cultivation systems where the tree is
given the status similar to that of any other traditional food crop.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are greatly indebted to ICRAF, E-Africa and Bindura University of Science
Education for supporting this project. Many thanks go to the farmers who provided valuable
information about the Moringa tree.
COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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