While it ain’t fancy photography, I want to share my excitement about the launch of the Moringa Association of Benin.  This has been my primary Peace Corps project for the last two years and it all culminated Saturday August 28th with the launch of ABM:

Moringa is a fast growing tree that is causing a stir in the development world for its potential to alleviate malnutrition in tropical countries. Moringa leaves can be consumed fresh or transformed into a dry powder for distribution as a health supplement.  Like much of West Africa, Benin faces high rates of infant mortality because of malnutrition.  In Benin, 12.5 percent of children will die before reaching their fifth birthday, with 53% of these deaths related to malnutrition. Food itself is not scarce, but families often subsist on grains like corn and millet that lack adequate protein and vitamins.  Moringa is rich in protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and iron, and these leaves offer a local solution to this serious problem.

Since starting a small moringa plantation last year in my rural village, I’ve been collaborating with other moringa producers, health workers, and NGOs to pull together a national moringa association.  ABM will offer technical assistance to producers while facilitating a national market for moringa products.  We’re want to make it easier for farmers to produce moringa, and easier for people to find the stuff in rural villages.

The moringa plantation I helped started in Goumori.

I’m proud to work with a talented, motivated group of Beninese nationals who’ve been sweating to get this thing organized.  Here are some shots from the big day:

Like most Beninese events, this meeting kicked off with speeches and formalities.  We invited the national television to share in the fun.

Professor Houndji (left) has been one of the driving forces behind the project.  He’s shaking hands with the Bob Friedman, the new director of Peace Corps Benin.

Bob and a moringa branch in the limelight.

Kodjo is the organization’s action man.  He masterminded the logistics for our general assembly.

Several other volunteers came to Parakou to help out on the big day.  Thanks ya’ll!

Giddy-up.

Don’t let the stern faces fool you.  We’re a giddy bunch.

Davide is one of the country’s biggest moringa producers – here he discusses the health virtues of these tiny leaves.

Yours truly, with our newly-elected president and the Peace Corps country director.

ABM’s president, Saturnin Houndji is a researcher in human nutrition at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou.

I was quite happy to stay behind the scenes all day – this has truly become an organization run by, and for, the people of Benin.

Our pretty new logo.

Davide and Yacobou – two of the enthusiastic guys behind this project.  Great work partners.

The newly-elected board of ABM.

I owe a special THANK YOU to the good folks behind the United Nations Staff 1% for Development Fund (New York).  They usually fund concrete projects like schools and health centers, but they saw the potential in this project and helped us finance the launch of ABM.  Now that we’re off the ground, we can get started in with the fun stuff:

-providing technical assistance to new plantations

-establishing a seed bank

-developing promotional materials

-structuring a pricing model to facilitate a wholesale market and to assure growers a fair income

-implementing production standards and hygiene requirements

-creating a contact directory to facilitate commerce

With my Peace Corps service coming to a close in December, I’m excited to be passing this project on to an enthusiastic new volunteer:

I know Patrick’s going to do a great job, and I’m looking forward to watching ABM take off in the next couple years.