Abstract

The African population is predicted to be 1,397,607,646, with the South African population estimated to be 60,635,919. With a continually expanding population across the continent, satisfying the demands of present and future generations will be a major global challenge. As a result, this study investigated Moringa oleifera lam as a superfood with the potential to reduce poverty and unemployment, promote rural economies, and close the rural-urban inequality gap. The study identified M. oleifera in the province, its current and potential consumption, and its economic value to rural farming. To do this, the study employed a mixed-method technique. Data was gathered using face-to-face interviews and online survey questionnaires. The study’s target demographic included M. oleifera farmers and consumers from all 11 district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. The desired population size was 1,000, while the sample size was 550 respondents. According to the data, M. oleifera is cultivated on a modest scale in KZN. The findings show that 63% of respondents were M. oleifera consumers, 8% were traders, and 7% grew moringa in the province. Furthermore, 64.5% of respondents use M. oleifera for therapeutic and nutritional reasons.

Key words: Moringa oleifera lam, unemployment, poverty, inequality, value chain.