24 Aug 2017

Local producers are capable of producing goods that are appealing to customers, and also getting value for their money because of their high quality.

In an interview with one of the exhibitors at Botswana Consumer Fair, Ms Tuduetso Nkunyane, who is the marketing and communications officer at Arona Natural Foods, the company specialises in making 100 per cent virgin sunflower oil through a “cold press method” used to extract oil from sunflower seeds.

She explained that their processing plant in Phakalane buys sunflower from local farmers, especially in Pandamatenga.

She said the sunflower oil that they produce was of high quality as it was not refined. She also noted that the by-products of sunflower include sunflower cake which comes either crushed or uncrushed. She added that it was  used as livestock fees.

Ms Nkunyane further explained that the oil was sold to different outlets including Choppies, Spar, Woolworths and other retailers.

She revealed that the business was doing well and growing, and that it was shown by the positive response of consumers as they have already started advertising the product on billboards, on television  and radio stations.

For his part, Mr Kealeboga Monyadzwe, who hail from Themashanga, said he specialises in woodwork and making indigenous goods such as stools, drums and flower pots among others.

He noted that he was assisted by the North East District Council to buy all the necessary materials worth P8 700.

He explained that he participated in President competitions from 2015 to 2017 and got position one at the regional level and that in 2016 he obtained position two still at the regional level.

Mr Monyadzwe also said he attended the council mini show and BOCCIM exhibitions where he sold his goods. He further said that people had shown interest in his goods and that some were even buying.

He added that he took his clients seriously and offered them the best products in order to prove that locally made products had the potential to do well in the market. ENDS