Farmers in the deep outskirts of Willovalle with the Mbashe Local Municipality and Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) are committed in producing the organic Moringa tree that has a lifespan of 48 years.

Speaking during the harvesting and official handover of water harvesting tanks at the Bojini village, chairperson of Ligwa Moringa Company, Alfred Bambiso said both DRDAR and the municipality were skeptical about funding the production of the Moringa tree.

“Today, we here to show both the department and municipality that we never looked back since we were here to turn the sword in March last year. We are happy that this harvest will not stay in our silos but it will be sold to a company that will export it to overseas. We are in a business of ensuring that our people’s lives are changed for better hence we are not saying this is a project but it a business enterprise,” Bambiso said.

He said to kick start the project, the municipality injected a R990 000 in the last financial year that created about 165 job opportunities in the fencing and clearing of fields while the municipality also invested R620 000 with DRDAR investing by purchasing 7 rain harvesting tanks that each have a carrying capacity of 10 000 litres.

The Moringa is planted in the area of 2ha of 150 hectors available land in Bojini and Ligwa villages and currently employees 10 permanent people – 4 males and 6 females.

MEC for DRDAR Xolile Nqatha who officiated the event with Mbashe Municipality Mayor Samkelo Janda applauded local people who are “ensuring that you participate in reaping the fruits of the province.

“We are committed to build the nation through food security and that will bring back dignity of the people. People should be allowed to be active participants in their own development so that they can have better life. As the department we have commitment to ensure communal and emerging farmers are assisted to become commercial,” he said.

Nqatha said since DRDAR is encouraging partnerships with the private sector, he was happy to learn that a community trust – made of 10 people with 60 % of shares have partnered with Eastern Cape (EC) Moringa Pty, LTD with 40% shares to form Ligwa Moringa Company.

Mayor Janda said the municipality is considering the Moringa production as one of its strategic focal points in its bid to exploit and implement high value crops.

“The projects that seek to stimulate economic growth. We want to invest more in these projects but that does not mean we will abandon other food security programmes. We call on other people, including government department and private sector to assist as we build vibrant, economically sound communities. This is a start of bigger things to come,” Janda said.

Greta Spalding of EC Moringa who is helping the company with his agriculture expertise applauded the commitment shown by the community to produce the tree she calls “The tree of life.”

Spalding, who is passionate about sharing her agriculture skills and is baking products like muffins and cakes using the Moringa tree, said “every single part of this tree is usable.”

She explained that roots, which are in a form of ball, could be used for food flavoring, the bark can heal sores while the leaves have essential oil with the flowers producing oils and the leftovers are animal feed.