It's called the miracle tree and the Belize Michigan Partners want you to have one in your yard. It's not a sales pitch, it's a health pitch and Dr. Chris Bennett of the Belize Michigan Partners told us why the Moringa tree could make a meaningful difference in Belize's nutritional profile.
Dr. Chris Bennett, Belize Michigan Partners
"The Moringa tree is really referred to as a miracle tree and it is originated from Asia and from Africa. In fact in the Philippines they also refer to it as the mother's best friend because of the immense health benefit and nutritional benefit the plant has. It has been shown to give a boost in energy, nutrition, and health. In fact research has shown that ounce for ounce, the Moringa tree has seven times the amount of Vitamin C that you would find in oranges. It has a high amount of Vitamin A, iron, potassium, in fact two times the amount of potassium you would get in bananas. Besides the nutritional benefits, research has also shown that it affects high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and the immune system. So it has immense nutritional and health benefits and in fact it is a rapid growing plant so once the plant reaches like four feet, you can then start to harvest the benefit of plant. You can have the leaf, you can eat it raw, you can have it in salads, you can put it in any of your favorite recipe and the whole idea is that because it is rapid growing it means you have access to it very very quickly. This initial phase, we will be in fact giving the plants for free with an information leaflet. Really the Moringa is a cheap source of nutrients and you would use it like how you would normally your spinach and your callaloo loloo except that it is right at your back door and in fact the moringa tree can grow in pots, you can just get a pigtail bucket, you put your young plant in there and when it reaches four feet you start to reap it. So in fact I don't think it'll be a problem with developing the taste for it because already people eat a lot of callaloo and spinach. Basically Jules we want for Moringa to be a household name, to be a staple food for Belize."
In the first phase, the Peace Corp, the Department of Agriculture and the Belize Michigan Partners will distribute five thousand moringa plants for free. If you want one you can call 223-0404. And yes, Moringas do grow in Belize but they are generally only known for their flowers.
