25 Jan 2017

As most young people roam the streets because of unemployment, that has not been the case with the Molepolole based trio of, Messrs. Kago Bareeng 26, Boitumelo Moremedi 29 and Martin Mogapi 43.

The trio has ventured into a tree planting business which they started in 2010. Speaking in an interview one of the members, Mr Bareeng said they all contributed from their pockets to form and run a company called Eden Garden Mathakaale.

He said it is passion that drove them into starting this tree planting business which is so far doing well. “No one among us has gone to school to learn about trees, we all learn daily as we do the business”, he said.

Mr Bareeng said they import seedlings from other Southern African countries especially South Africa, then plant them at their garden located at Masu-a-Ditshwene ward in Molepolole before selling them after they have grown.

He indicated that they plant a variety of trees such as botanical trees, fruit trees and those that provide shade insisting that all these kinds of trees decorate the environment.

He said it is important to decorate homes with these different kinds of trees as they play a vital role in human lives.

Meanwhile Mr Bareeng said they sometimes face challenges of shortage of water in the village which leads to some of the seedlings dying thus reducing their production target. 

He also decried lack of operational land as they operate from a small garden in a residential plot. “Our dream is to have a bigger field where we can produce a wider variety of plants to sell to the entire country, even outside,” he added.

In conclusion Mr Bareeng said the business is doing well and their prices range between P40 and P150 a tree. 

He said they are hopeful that through the support of Batswana their business will excel and employ other young people. BOPA