CHAPTER ONE

1.1       INTRODUCTION

            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

“Life on these planets has been likened to a pyramid: a pyramid with an unbelievably wide base and a small apex…… Humans are some where near the top but not at the top because they are omnivores. They are one of those lucky animals that can subsist on a wide range of food, vegetable and animal” (Seymour, 2003). Although Seymour rightly says human can survive on a wide range of food, it is also known that it’s not every food when eaten that provides the body with the nutrients that it needs, and not having the right nutrients one needs can lead to malnutrition.

Recently the concept of bioversity in the form of food based supplementation as a mechanism to possibly provide diversity to the diets of people is prominent in nutrition research on food sources available in Africa and Asia (John’s 2003). It is a concern that the original or cultural knowledge of people concerning foods and nutritional value thereof are being lost to diet transition with migration and urbanization (Kuhnlein, 2002). The food compositions of a diverse range of foods have been analyzed and more still have to be analyzed as initiated in FAO projects lately (FAO, 2008).

Johns (2003) and Kuhnlein (2008) suggests that with the knowledge of nutritional analysis a range of foods could be introduced to supplement the diet of a house hold to improve food and nutritional security. Both authors view more research on traditional food, such as traditional leafy vegetables, and its contribution in micro nutrient contents as a positive step toward health promotion or intervention strategies

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

–                      MORINGA OLEIFERA PLANT, AS A NUTRITIUOUS FOOD SOURCE

Moringa oleifera plant belongs to the moringaceae family, which is a single genus family with 14 known species of the 14 known species, moringa oleifera plant is the most widely known and utilised species.

Moringa is nature to the sub-Himalayan region of India and it is now naturalized in many countries in Africa, Saudi Arabia, South East Asia, the Caribbean and South America (muno, muhilcambele, and Sarwatt, 2003) it is a feat growing tree, which can reach 12m in height at maturity. The plant is also know as drumstick tree, deemed from the shape of the pods resembling a drumstick.

Moringa has received attention in many countries in the tropic and sub-tropics and its leaves, pods and seeds from part of the traditional cuisine in these countries. Although moringa is used in West, Central and East Africa and although it growns in some parts of South Africa, the plant itself, as well as its uses, are mostly unknown to South Africans in general (National research Council, 2006) literature  study and a few informal discussions held in Tshwome and Mokopane in the Ganiteng and Lumpopo provinces of South Africa respectively indicate that although some people use moringa in their diets (mostly Indians) its usage is not documented in South Africa. However, the listing of moringa as a herb in South Africa is on the increase. There is therefore an opportunity to introduce moringa as a food source, which could lead to an increase in diversity of the dietary intake, especially among rural populations of South Africa.

Fahey (2005) in a scientific publication, refer to popular publications promoting moringa as a nutrient dense food source and give the following information. The importance of moringa lies in the high nutritional value of its leaves, pod and seeds. “100g of moringa leaves contain four times more vitamin A than the same quality of carrots; four times the calcium in a cup of milk; more iron than 100g of spinachi; seven times the vitamin C in 100g of bananas. The protein quality of moringa leaves also rivals that of milk and eggs” (Dahey, 2005). The scientific determined nutritional values reported in the literature of moringa leaves and pods are documented and discussed in detail.

Therefore, moringa is a relatively good source of vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids and could be considered as a good alternative to be used to help alleviate micronutrient malnutrition of household as well as national level.

 1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Moringa leaf is not so common to people in Nigeria and so many people are not familiar with it.

The leaf is not common in our environment for people to make use of properly.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of these research study is to highlight the use of moringa and traditional green leafy and include the planning of intervention strategies and it we able use to know the important roles moringa places as a good source of food.

1.4     THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The research aim to investigate the usage of moringa leaves in the diets of existing users and to investigate the possibility of introducing the plant to households in need of diversifying their dietary intake.

The research objectives areas follows

(1)               To established the usage patterns of moringa in diets, reason for usage and associated indigenous knowledge. 

(2)               To assess variations in peri-urban and traditional Bapedi households in terms of diet diversification.