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The Mulberry Tree

The planting of Persian Mulberry Morus nigra ‘Shah’ has the potential to play an active part in the redevelopment of the national economy of Haiti. It will stimulate the rural economy, promote overall development of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and side-line occupations.

The generation of knowledge based on moriculture is one of the major values to be derived from the planting of the Biblical sycamore tree.

The Mulberry tree- Genus: Morus (Alba, Rubra and Nigra) originated in the foothills of the Himalayas and was dedicated to the Ancients of Minerva. Sanguinoa morus (red or rubra) was referred to by Virgil as D’arbe D’or ( Tree of Gold) and is referred to in the Bible as the Sycamore tree.

The Morus genus has more than twenty species and there are over 110 varieties of Mulberry, which is a member of the Moracae family, an angio-sperm of the Class: Dicotyledon; Sub-Class Urticales In tropical regions, some mulberry varieties can grow all year-round; the ideal terrain for mulberry cultivation will have a gradient below 15% as mechanization is practicable and soil erosion minimal. Because of agroclimactic conditions in tropical zones, much greater flexibility is possible in moriculture, enabling multi-cropping to be practiced.

The practice of Applied Moriculture addresses what Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carringon refers to as “ ethical issues related to sustainable development which assumes even greater relevance as concern grows over the question of maintaining social as well as ecological balance in the face of growing poverty and increased evidence of global warming and their attendant threats to the planet. ” Moriculture, as a working agro diversity and best practice model, offers a new hope, with realistic, concrete steps and actions directed at different levels of society, so affected communities may recover with dignity. The implementation of Moriculture will promote possibilities for cooperation, an integrated approach to development and social cohesion, and address what has been documented in the book, “Eternal Spring” by Jef Creb, as:

• the local reality, and the slow pace with which restorative activities are being implemented;
• growing social imbalance and instability;
• respect for cultural diversity and sustainable development of a bio-region;
• fair trade systems and the expansion of existing natural areas.

According to studies done by Dr. Antonio Rota in a Barbadian Professional Analysis, small ruminants dig through compost to reach mulberry discards. Its composition of nutritional values is as follows:

Essential Amino acids in excess of 46 %
204.3oz of amino acids per gram/protein
Lignin ~ acid detergent lignin 8.1%
Leaves/bark 7.17%
Calcium 1.8 -2.4%
Phosphorus 0.14 -.24%
K Value 1.90 – 2.8% leaves
1.33 – 1.55 stem
Magnesium 0.47 - 0.63% leaves
0.26 – 0.35% stem
Nitrogen 16.6% + ammonia
Protein 6.02%
Ribulose 1.5 biphosphates carboxylase (RUBISCO)
48% total nitrogen

The utilisation of Moriculture, the cultivation of mulberry trees to reclaim arid land and prevent slippage, has been well documented over the centuries. Moriculture has been used to promote afforestation and thereby erosion control in damaged or arid areas. Slope reclamation solutions abound with the use of mulberry which has a positive impact on the natural resource base.

Mulberry plantation can also utilise fallow land unsuitable for traditional crops for productive purposes, as was discovered to great practical benefit in Zimbabwe. As an ethical ecological solution to reforestation, the mulberry tree will reach full height of 30- 45 ft with 40 ft canopy, depending on variety, within five years. Water and soil nutrients directly affect the growth and bio-mass production of mulberry trees, and intercropping with other fruit trees and legumes which nitrogenize the soil, can optimize and address food security issues which abound in damaged rural communities faced with reconstruction. The wood of the mulberry tree is a useful building material and is used to make farm tools. High grade paper and artificial fibre can also be made from the bark.

Additionally, the by-products of mulberry cultivation, ( ie. Leaves, fruit, wood, bark) allow for the sustainable development of off-shoot entrepreneurial activities, as market analyses show available niches for jams, juices, fruit musts for wine production, and sericulture (feeding leaves to silkworms to produce cocoons).

Moriculture relates well to rural poverty alleviation strategies.

Each hectare of mulberry plantation provides approximately 13-15 employment opportunities for citizens. This best practice has significant capacity building potential through providing local farmers and research staff with training opportunities and continuing educational growth.

Medical benefits