Proposal: Establishment of 100 Hectares of Moringa Plantations for National Institutional Nutrition and Economic Empowerment

 

 

Submitted by:

 
Hunter – Executive President

 
Hunter’s Global Network PTY LTD, Farmer’s Pride International & Uphopia Farms
Plot: 12996, Mine Houses, Monarch, Francistown, Botswana
📧 E-mails:

• hunter@hg-network.org
• hunter@farmerspride-int.org
  🌐 Farmer’s Pride Linktree: https://linktr.ee/farmerspride.int
  📞 Mogomotsi Madisa: +267 77 576 144 / +267 73 486 149

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1. Executive Summary

This proposal advocates for the cultivation of 100 hectares of Moringa oleifera dedicated to national strategic institutions — specifically the army, police, schools, and correctional services — to improve nutritional outcomes, bolster health resilience, create sustainable jobs, and contribute to import substitution and climate action in line with Vision 2036, Africa Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The initiative positions Moringa as a nutritional, medicinal, and economic super crop, offering a local, sustainable solution for:

• Enhanced institutional feeding programs,
• Improved immunity and health among students and personnel,
• Youth employment through agriculture-based value chains,
• Generation of income through local and international markets, and
• Sequestration of carbon to fight climate change.

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2. Background and Justification

Botswana and many African nations currently spend millions annually on the importation of food supplements and medical aids for soldiers, students, and officers. These costs can be significantly reduced by investing in climate-smart crops that serve multiple purposes, such as Moringa, which is:

• Nutrient-dense (rich in calcium, potassium, iron, vitamin A, protein),
• Antioxidant and immune-boosting,
• Cost-effective to grow and maintain,
• Drought-tolerant, thriving in semi-arid climates,
• A source of revenue and jobs for out growers and cluster farmers.

Through a cluster-based model, the 100-hectare project will support a network of contract farmers, processors, youth cooperatives, and institutional buyers, led by Hunter’s Global Network and Farmer’s Pride International.

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3. Objectives of the Project

• To supply Moringa-based nutritional products (tea, powder, porridge, capsules, oil) to public institutions including:
• Army barracks and training camps,
• Police colleges and operational centers,
• Government and private schools,
• Hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
• To reduce dependency on imported supplements and provide locally produced, nutrient-dense alternatives.
• To empower women and youth through agriculture, employment in farming, harvesting, processing, and distribution.
• To promote sustainable land management and contribute to climate mitigation by sequestering thousands of tons of carbon annually.

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4. Economic and Nutritional Benefits

Sector	Estimated Monthly Beneficiaries	Moringa Use	Value Added
Botswana Defence Force (BDF)	15,000 personnel	Boosting strength, recovery, immunity	Improved performance, lower medical costs
Police Services	8,000 officers	Daily tea, capsules, porridge	Reduced fatigue, improved stamina
Public Schools	120,000+ students	School porridge, fortified meals	Improved cognition, attendance
Correctional Services	5,000 inmates and staff	Health tonic, nutrition, therapy	Reduced infection, behavioral benefits

Each hectare will produce between 18,000–24,000 kg of Moringa leaves annually. At an average buying price of BWP 40 per kg, the annual value of production per hectare will be BWP 720,000 to BWP 960,000.

For 100 hectares, this equates to:

• Low Yield Case (0.3kg x 6 harvests):
  100 ha × 18,000 kg = 1.8 million kg
  Revenue = BWP 72 million/year
• High Yield Case (0.5kg x 8 harvests):
  100 ha × 24,000 kg = 2.4 million kg
  Revenue = BWP 96 million/year

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5. Climate, Employment, and SDG Contributions

• Carbon Sequestration:
  100 hectares of Moringa (70,000 trees/ha) = 7 million trees, capable of absorbing over 100,000 tons of CO₂ annually.
• Jobs Created:
• Direct farm jobs: 600 (planting, harvesting, drying)
• Processing and packaging: 120
• Distribution, transport, and sales: 150
• Total: 870 jobs created annually, especially for women and youth
• SDG Alignment:
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

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6. Strategic Institutional Partnerships

This initiative invites formal collaboration with:

• Ministry of Agriculture – land allocation, extension support
• Ministry of Defence and Security – institutional uptake
• Ministry of Education – school nutrition programs
• Ministry of Health – research and dietary guidelines
• Ministry of Environment – carbon markets and climate incentives

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7. Implementation Phases

Phase	Description	Duration
Phase 1 – Mobilization	Land acquisition, cluster formation, training	1 month
Phase 2 – Establishment	Land preparation, borehole drilling, transplanting	2 months
Phase 3 – Production	Routine care, fertilization, disease control	Ongoing
Phase 4 – Harvest & Processing	Drying, milling, packaging, quality control	Bi-monthly
Phase 5 – Distribution	Direct supply to army, police, schools, and stores	Monthly

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8. Required Investment and Support

Category	Estimated Cost (BWP)
Land preparation and inputs	2,800,000
Irrigation systems and fencing	4,200,000
Labour, training, supervision	3,600,000
Dryers, processing, packaging	5,000,000
Transport and logistics	2,400,000
Certification and quality control	1,000,000
Total Initial Investment	BWP 19,000,000

(Note: Total revenue can exceed BWP 72–96 million annually)

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9. Conclusion and Call to Action

This 100-hectare Moringa farming initiative represents a national opportunity to localize health and nutrition solutions, reduce imports, generate jobs, promote environmental sustainability, and position Botswana as a regional leader in bio-nutrition and green economy agriculture.

We call upon institutional buyers, government ministries, donor agencies, and development partners to:

• Support through policy endorsement, land allocation, and funding,
• Integrate Moringa-based foods in institutional menus, and
• Invest in value chain infrastructure including drying, processing, packaging, and export.

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Contact for Partnership and Funding Proposals:
Hunter – Executive President
Hunter’s Global Network PTY LTD, Farmer’s Pride International & Uphopia Farms
📍 Plot 12996, Mine Houses, Monarch, Francistown, Botswana
📧 hunter@hg-network.org | hunter@farmerspride-int.org
🌐 https://linktr.ee/farmerspride.int
📞 Mogomotsi Madisa: +267 77 576 144 / +267 73 486 149

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