IN THE lush, fertile landscape of Bohol, where farming has long been both a tradition and a necessity, a quiet revolution is brewing. It isn’t the kind you see plastered on billboards or hyped in social media. It’s found in the simple leaves of a tree known to many as kamungay and globally hailed as moringa. On October 5, 2024, a group of farmers, agriculture experts, and curious minds gathered at the Tzu Chi Foundation’s Activity Hall, drawn not by spectacle but by the promise of knowledge that could change how Bohol’s farmers work the land and sustain their families.
Sponsored by Moringaling Philippines, Inc. (represented by Dr. Manuel Palada) and the Tzu Chi Foundation, Bohol Operations (represented by Deputy Coordinator Joven Uy), the seminar was led by celebrated international horticulturist Dr. Palada, a man with half a century of experience that stretches from the Philippines to Florida and back. This wasn’t just another lecture on crop cultivation—it was a deep dive into the future of agriculture in Bohol. At a time when sustainable farming is no longer just an option but a pressing need, moringa (the Indian variety or PKM1) emerges as a tree that can provide nutrition, income, and resilience to the ever-challenging climate realities.
With every word from Dr. Palada, the audience was invited to rethink what they knew about farming. Moringa is not just a multipurpose crop—it’s a symbol of survival, a pillar of sustainable development. The seminar was a clarion call for Bohol’s farmers to embrace this humble tree as a tool for transformative change, linking the wisdom of traditional farming with modern sustainable practices. And in the process, the seminar opened doors to new opportunities, from local commercialization to international markets. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the potential couldn’t be more promising.
Moringa: A Tree with Roots in the Future
Dr. Palada opened the seminar with an almost poetic reverence for moringa. This was no ordinary tree—moringa’s adaptability, nutritional density, and ability to flourish in harsh conditions make it an agricultural wonder. For the farmers in the room, many of whom have seen their crops suffer due to unpredictable weather and soil degradation, moringa represented something they don’t often have: hope.
But what really set the tone was the practical approach Palada brought to the table. Moringa wasn’t just a lofty idea or some trend hawked by NGOs. It was a working solution. With clear, simple language, Palada explained how moringa can be grown sustainably, using methods that wouldn’t drain the land but rejuvenate it. In Bohol, where sustainability is not a buzzword but a daily necessity, this resonated. You could almost see the mental light bulbs going off in the audience—this tree could help us weather the storms, both literal and metaphorical.
Farming Smarter, Not Harder
The magic of the seminar wasn’t just in the words; it was in the actionable knowledge shared. Palada broke down improved horticultural practices, outlining step-by-step methods for maximizing moringa yields. From proper spacing of trees to crop rotation and organic fertilization, it became clear that moringa’s success hinges on attention to detail and commitment to sustainable techniques. This was a crucial moment, especially for the farmers in Bohol who often wrestle with limited resources. It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter.
One of the standout moments was when Palada emphasized the role moringa could play in addressing malnutrition. Bohol, while beautiful, still faces challenges with poverty and food insecurity. Moringa’s nutritional profile, packed with vitamins, protein, and essential minerals, positions it as a powerful tool in the fight against malnutrition. Imagine that—a tree that could literally grow a healthier future.
More Than Just a Crop: Moringa as Business
While Dr. Palada emphasized moringa’s agricultural potential, it was Zonito Tamase who took the conversation further by focusing on commercialization. Palada reechoed Tamase’s insights, underscoring the viability of moringa products in both local and global markets. Tamase laid out the numbers, and suddenly, moringa wasn’t just a sustainable farming solution—it was a business opportunity.
The practicality of these ideas resonated even more when attendees witnessed moringa processing firsthand. Ellie Palada, in a live demonstration, showed how to make moringa capsules, sparking excitement in the room. The message was clear: this tree could not only sustain families but elevate them economically.
Local to Global: A New Vision for Bohol’s Farmers
What started as a conversation about agriculture soon became something much larger—a vision of how Bohol’s farmers could connect to the global market. Zonito Tamase highlighted the growing international demand for organic, sustainably sourced moringa products. The potential is significant. Imagine Bohol, long known for its natural beauty, becoming a major player in the global moringa market. Farmers who once struggled to make ends meet could become entrepreneurs, exporting their products worldwide.
But, of course, this isn’t just about dollars and cents. There’s a deeper message here. Bohol’s farmers have long relied on traditional crops—rice, coconut, corn—and these crops, while vital, are vulnerable. Climate change has brought new challenges, and moringa offers a solution that adapts to these realities. It’s a crop that not only survives but thrives, giving farmers the resilience they need in an uncertain future.
The Spark that Ignited a Movement
As the seminar came to a close, something remarkable happened. The discussions didn’t end with the final session—they sparked an eagerness among the participants to do more than just grow moringa. Farmers, inspired by the ideas shared, began planning to sustain their group as a people’s organization dedicated to advocating moringa production, processing, and commercialization. Someone took immediate steps toward this vision by planting three kilos of moringa seeds from the high-yielding PKM1 variety as a preliminary test, while the rest planted a few seeds they got from Dr. Palada. What started as a single seminar was now the spark of a movement, a network of farmers determined to support one another in bringing moringa to the forefront of sustainable agriculture in Bohol.
Will this seminar be remembered as the catalyst for a moringa revolution in Bohol? Only time will tell. But for now, the seeds have been planted—literally and figuratively—and the farmers of Bohol have a new vision of what their future might look like, rooted in the leaves of the humble moringa tree. (For comments, email lucelllarawan@gmail.com).
