What he later discovered was “magical.”
Moringa or malunggay is a leafy vegetable found in most back yards in the CNMI.
It is very easy to grow as it survives in any kind of soil and weather condition — it is also a very economically viable agriculture crop, Badilles said in an interview.
Yet it is “underutilized,” he added.
Many people are still not aware of its value — that it is, in fact, edible and very nutritious.
Moringa also has considerable benefit to agriculture by serving as a wind breaker, Badilles said.
Wind breakers are trees used by farmers to protect sensitive fruits and vegetable plants from strong winds especially in high areas, he added.
Basically a tree, although not a source of good timber, moringa can also help prevent erosion because it has a root system that keeps soil intact.
Moringa leaves, Badilles said, can be used as fertilizer and is known as “green manure.”
Moringa is simply magical, he added.
It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and enable a malnourished mother to nurse her starving baby. Ounce for ounce it has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C of seven oranges and the potassium of three bananas
A dash of moringa can make dirty water drinkable. Doctors use it to treat diabetes in West Africa and high blood pressure in India. It can also staunch skin infection.
Moringa has triple the iron content of spinach and more impressive attributes than olive oil. Moringa and the common carotene are also good for the eyes.
On Rota, Badilles grinds dried moringa leaves and mixes them with hot water. It’s like tea with the aroma of chocolate, he said.
But unlike tea bags, moringa powder can be diluted in the boiling water, he added.
Moringa powder can also be used in any kind of soup — or in making a more nutritious bread.
How to harvest
Pick moringa leaves in the morning. Dry them indoors for four days. It has to be done indoors because sunlight affects the leaves’ nutrients.
Bake the leaves in low heat oven for four hours then grind into powder.
Moringa powder, Badilles warned, is very sensitive to spoilage especially if there is no proper aeration.
He is now preparing a business plan for moringa production, processing and marketing.
Disclaimer: The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not meant to provide medical advice.
