6 February 2017 11:03 am Views - 2019
Committed to improving rural livelihood and nutrition through sustainable agricultural development, Hayleys Agriculture the agriculture arm of the leading multinational conglomerate Hayleys PLC, launched the ‘Jeevadhara’ programme to provide one million Moringa (murunga/drumstick/moringa oeifera) plants to families in Jaffna and neighboring areas of the Northern Province via a network of 100,000 out-growers.
‘Jeevadhara’ intends to enhance farmer incomes and livelihoods while creating a sustainable supply of pods and leaves for domestic consumption and value added exports. The project intends to reach 100,000 households in Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya providing around 10 plants per household.
The initial batch of one thousand farmers, were given 10,000 Moringa plants at a handing over ceremony at Navatkuli Maha Vidyalayam in Kaithady, Jaffna, in the presence of several key dignitaries of the region.
Considered nature’s gift to human-kind due to its many nutritional properties and traditionally grown in a small scale in Northern Sri Lanka for centuries, Moringa oleifera is catching on as a miracle tree with the leaves and pods classed as ‘super-food’, globally. Gram for gram, Moringa is known to have two times the protein of plain yogurt, four times the calcium of milk, 25 times the iron of spinach, four times the vitamin A of carrots, and seven times the vitamin C of oranges.
Hayleys Agriculture is confident that a farmer could earn an additional income of around Rs. 50,000 per year from 10 mature trees. Moreover, every aspect of the tree from the leaves to the pods can be value added for income generation. With its myriad applications from leaf powder to pod-pressed edible oil, the plant is on an overdrive of popularity, with health authorities having re-discovered its massive nutrition and health benefits.
Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage said, the Jeevadhara programme underscores the Group’s philosophy of continuously engaging and supporting local communities to help improve their lives and livelihoods.
“The agro ecological conditions in the North, where Jeevadhara is being rolled out, is conducive for Moringa cultivation” said Rizvi Zaheed, Managing Director of Hayleys Agriculture Holdings and so we found a natural fit to have home-owners in and around the Jaffna peninsula to make the cultivation commercially viable for them” he explained.
“Moreover, Moringa can provide an initial harvest in six to eight months. It is fast-growing, drought tolerant and the tree remains evergreen with exceptionally nutritious leaves, pods and roots. From the root of the plant to the leaf, every part is valuable,” added Zaheed. Hayleys Agriculture will engage with government institutions, university and research agencies and community based organizations to support the Jeevadhara programme.