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| Bara Community Tree Farm - Morninga Project |
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| Project Director |
| Kate Lechner, Peace Corps Volunteer |
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Project Number |
Total Cost (US$) |
Location |
CH06-08-PC |
$229.46 |
Bara, Mali (Gao) |
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Project Description
This project enhanced the nutrition of the community by introducing moringa leaf powder to be used in traditional sauces. Additionally, the project served as a sustainable fundraiser for the ASACO (a community health association). Previously, the ASACO operated without a formal budget and would frequently fall months behind on staff salaries; when a person pays 100FCFA (approximately 5 cents US) for vaccinations that money is taken directly to the store to purchase either bleach for sanitation or a pen to keep the records.
Bara volunteers set up a moringa pepiniere (nursery) and started a tree selling cooperative. Project funds were used for seeds, land, gardening tools, fencing, labor, and the materials to turn the leaves into powder. Moringas offer a particular benefit in the north of Mali as they are a hardy tree and require minimal watering. Another benefit is that they grow quickly, offering visible results for the effort. To me, seeing a tree grow quickly and strongly with nurturing is a beautiful metaphor for the health of a family: with attention and no extra cost, a child will follow the same path as the tree.
Project Budget | | | |
Items |
Units |
Unit Cost (CDA) |
Total Cost (CFA) |
Shovel |
1 |
2,750 |
2,750 |
Well bag |
1 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
Rope |
45 meters |
500 |
22,500 |
Bucket |
1 |
1,200 |
1,200 |
Pepiniere bag plastic |
10 meters |
500 |
5,000 |
Watering cans |
1 |
4,000 |
4,000 |
Fence posts |
12 |
1,500 |
15,000 |
Chicken wire |
27 meters |
1,000 |
27,000 |
Labor (community contribution) |
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-0- |
-0- |
TOTAL African Sky Contribution
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*$229.46 |
**We received a gift of one kilo of moringa seeds from the Peace Corps Environmental Assistant Country Director, and the Relais (community health workers) association volunteered their courtyard as the pepinierelocation.
***Final project cost includes money transfer fees |
Morninga Facts
- The Moringa tree produces its nutrient-rich leaves during the dry season when
little else grows.
- Moringa nursery projects can contribute both economic opportunities for
communities in arid environments like northern Mali.
- Moringa leaves are an excellent source of fresh vegetable/leaf during Mali's dry
season.
- In ounce for ounce comparisons, nutrient-rich moringa has mores:
- calcium than milk
- iron than spinach
- potassium than bananas
- vitamin C than oranges
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