VALUE ADDITION OF MORINGA NATURAL SUPPLEMENT AND SUPER FOOD

We undertake value addition for Moringa the most nutrition packed plant in the world to help address nutrition and health need of low in come people through natural supplements and super foods.

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Inspiration

Working at a clinic in Kibera in the nutrition department, I was shocked by a large number of malnutrition cases and non-communicable diseases reported. Reports by the medical records team pointed at affordability, animal protein allergy, and lack of access to drug supplements sold at clinics.

What it does

Morinuet Ventures seeks to champion healthy feeding habits to stem Malnutrition, weight issues, and the management of Noncommunicable diseases. Thus a fast number of people are not able to feed consistently and the right amount of fruits and vegetables. Thus the business enjoys the benefit of unmet demand of health-conscious people, the affected, and those at risk of NCDs.

Compared to other sources of nutrients, the Moringa plant is a natural health product with almost all nutrients; Research by South Africa Agri-Research Center shows Moringa has 7 times the vitamin C of Orange, 10 times the vitamin A of Carrots, 17 times the calcium of milk, 15 times the potassium of a banana and 25 times the iron of spinach. Its consumption boosts the immune system thus maintaining a healthy immune system enabling our bodies to stave off infections and illnesses including COVID 19.

The prevalence of NCDs and dietary issues has been on the increase in recent years as food markets become flooded with processed and junk foods.

Child Malnutrition; According to the KNBS 1.82M children aged less than 5 years in developing countries suffering from, is chronic malnutrition.

High Prevalence of Preventable Non Communicable Diseases. - Kenya has a high prevalence of NCDs because they mostly have poor healthy diets. Most foods are high in sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats, as well as many processed preservatives and ingredients. Fast foods are also very low in beneficial nutrients.

III. Underweight weight and obesity - According to KNBS -2009, 47% of women in Nairobi are obese while 57% of men are underweight.

How we built it

Our company's main business is adding value to natural Moringa powder through by addition of permitted flavors and safe colorings. The products are baby porridge, Moringa honey, Nutri-pack additives, and fortified flour which are all healthy and have high nutritional and medicinally benefits. Extracts from the Moringa tree is rich in the fibers typically found in fruits and cereals. A high fiber diet reduces fat absorption into the gut and burns it off, rather than storing it. Moringa provides nutrients vital for health and for the maintenance of the body because it is low fat and has low calories.

Our Value Chain Process

Stage one: Training and supporting farmers in growing and harvesting quality Moringa in lower eastern Kenya.

Stage two; Buying raw Moringa from the selected farmers - Purchase of raw Moringa from farmers we plan to supplement the purchase of moringa from farmers by the company's own farm.

Stage three: Washing and Drying the Moringa leaves - green Moringa leaves are washed dried in a special a drier of the direct sun to conserve nutrients.

Stage four: Formulation and Packaging - this is the important stage where the Moringa leaves are ground into powder form and undergoes a series of patented value addition processes to make our final products. We package under hygienic and healthy conditions as well as doing branding by the use of attractive labels with nutritional information.

Stage five: Selling finished products to customers - The final products are made available to our esteemed customers through retail shops, chemists, pharmaceuticals, and trade stands. We also sell the products online.

Challenges we ran into

Lack of enough capital for mass production and sell Moringa production. Little knowledge about Moringa and its nutritional and health benefits. Lack of proper packaging and branding of products. Low quality of Moringa supplied by farmers due to lack of proper production training. Lack of funds to process KEBS and public health certification.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Capacity building of 5 farmers in Moringa growing We have a network of 30 farmers for an adequate supply of raw Moringa. Registered company for Moringa value addition. Purchase some tools for processing Moringa into products Developed four main Moringa products – Moringa slime tea, Moringa nutria pack, and Moringa baby formula, and Moringa immune booster pack.

What we learned

There is a generally increasing demand for healthy foods in Kenya in the area. Moringa in indeed and a superfood with numerous medicinal advantages. A massive health promotion campaign is needed to educate people in Kenya on the many health benefits of Moringa. Farmers training and support is vital to help the grown high-quality Moringa and generate revenue

What's next for Morineut ventures

Reach 20,000 maltreated children from Kenya slums with affordable moringa supplements in the year. Provide moringa healthy food to 10,000 people with NCD in the year. Obtain public health and KEBS quality certification. Capacity builds training for 50 farmers in organic moringa growing in the year. Establish a 20 tonne per year capacity value addition micro facility for raw Moringa in the year. Partner with KIRDI to develop 10 different natural flavors. Have 1 processing plant - 500 Moringa tablets and capsules per day. plant 1000 shoots of Moringa trees to cut costs in 3 years. Develop 2 new products e.g Moringa seed cooking oil in the year. To create job opportunities for 10 young mothers as product ambassadors.

Built With

  • low-income-people
  • moringa
  • naturalsuppliments
  • nutrition
  • superfoods
  • valueaddition
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