admin
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
WHILE many might look at a tree and just see a source of energy, enterprising women in Matabeleland South see a way to put food on the table.
With the assistance of the Government and its various development partners, women in the province have made good use of non-timber forest products such as baobab fruits, marula fruits, amazhanje, ilala, honey, musau, mopane worms and umthunduluka.
Moddy Shoko from Beitbridge Town, a member of Vhasadi Gifted Hands, said they have found a niche in processing baobab fruit.
“In the past we used to look at baobab trees and just see them as trees but we have discovered that they are a gold mine. We buy baobab fruits in bulk from the rural areas and then we extract baobab juice. We first dry them then soak the kennels in water and then boil to remove the outside layer.
“We sell some of the juice as it is while we package some in small plastic papers to make freezits which they sell to school pupils. Many people love this juice and the children love the freezits. We are making good money from our products. We package some of our juice in 20-litre containers while we package some in 500ml bottles.”
She said they can buy a 20-litre of baobab fruit for R80 and they can produce baobab juice valued at R200.
Unathi Mathe from Gwanda District said she works with other women to collect mopane worms which they process and sell.
“We have found good business in selling mopane worms. Mopane worms are a natural resource that we have in abundance in Gwanda and instead of letting it go to waste we decided to venture into a business. We have people that come from as far as Harare to buy mopane worms. We mostly sell in buckets.
“This project has helped to fend for our families and in future, we hope to further process the mopane worms in order to come up with a variety of products. The mopane worm business is cost effective as we don’t use much resources when collecting them or processing them. The cost comes in through transportation when we want to make deliveries,” she said.
Fiona Sibanda, a member of Bambanani Co-operative in Matobo District, said they have found good business in selling products made from ilala. They make mats and baskets.
Judith Ncube, the chairperson of Vusanani Co-operative from Natane area in Bulilima, said their focus is on marula products.
“In Bulilima we are blessed with a rich natural resource which is marula trees. Growing up we used to pick up marula fruits and nuts just to eat but now we have discovered that they are a great treasure. We started off with products such as marula oil, marula jam, marula nuts and marula butter.
Now we have added marula booster, marula syrup, marula foundation, marula chicken feed and marula livestock feed.
“We have managed to start livestock rearing projects using our marula business. We use the marula fruits to prepare stock feed which is cost effective. Our fellow villagers also come to buy stock feed made from marula fruits to give to their animals especially goats, chickens and donkeys. We are realising significant income from selling marula products,” Ncube said. – @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter