UCT is looking to establish three small Benzoliv Processing plants in Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda before we embark on our major commercial project on the 26,000 hectares of land in DR Congo.

Seen here the land in Malawi in Uluwa donated to UCT and the site selected for our Malawi Benzoliv Pilot Project.

STEP 1- Harvesting:

Benzoliv can be grown intensively with no irrigation and small amounts of fertilizer. Harvesting the leaves every 75 days—four crops in a year with around 100 tons of green matter per hectare the first year, and 57 tons per hectare the second year.

If however the Benzoliv plantation is irrigated and fertilized harvesting can be achieved every 35 days—nine crops per year—with a total yield of 650 tons of green matter per hectare. This yield can be consistent from the same plants for seven years.

1. The Benzoliv leaves are transported to the Processing Plant where they are first washed in large buckets or pots in well or catchment water.



2. The second wash is done in Sawyer PointOne filtered water. This is the fastest, easiest and most cost efficient way to get potable water.

Photographes compliments of Shape Lives Foundation

Step 3 - Picking:

Hats, masks, gloves and over coats are worn to comply with good food hygeine standards.

The washed Benzoliv leaves are then removed from the twigs. (These can be chopped into 10cm pieces and fed to cattle, sheep or goats)

Once removed the leaves are collected and placed in a large bowl.

Photographs compliments of Shape Lives Foundation

Step 5 - Pounding:

While hand grinding is still widely used it is slow, time and labor intensive and often produces an inconsistent Benzoliv leaf powder.

It is still used however at the stage before grinding.

Photographs compliments of Shape Lives Foundation

Photographs compliments of Shape Lives Foundation