Moringa is fast growing, drought resistant tree, of which the leaves and pods are very rich in (micro-) nutrients such as Vitamin A, C and calcium. Not surprisingly, the tree is seen as an important source of nutrition, and increasingly its products also feature the every day diet of many Nigerien households. It is estimated that 60% of Nigeriens consume a moringa-based dish every day, a very high percentage also given the high levels of undernutrition in the country. Moringa production in Niger is dominated by small-scale producers who, despite their large numbers, are not organized into producer groups. This low level of organization, combined with low levels of productivity with moringa producers, prevents a further growth of the sector, and further uptake of moringa based products by Nigerien consumers.
Two companies in Niger, Nassaraoua and Goroubi, have taken up the daunting challenge of bringing more organization and productivity into the sector, with the goal of providing more, and more diverse, moringa-based products to Nigerien consumers. Ultimately, this should also lead to increasing the income of small-scale moringa producers, and to an improvement of the food- & nutrition security situation in Niger.
