21 Jun 2018

Ms Maapeo Kapapa of Etsha 6 in Okavango District is one of the beneficiaries who tried her luck in the pilot layer production  project, which was introduced last year under the Poverty Eradication Programme.

The 37-year-old woman’s knowledge about layers is amazing considering she knew nothing about it when she started.

Today her project is flourishing because she demonstrates patience, commitment and perseverance.

Ms Kapapa explained in an interview that when she applied for the programme, life was unbearable as she was struggling to put bread on the table for her three children, five siblings and her aged single mother.

She said due to the difficulties at home, she relocated to Maun in 2004 as they all depended on their mother who relied on farming and selling of traditional brew to fend for them.

Although she did not go far in her studies, she does not lack courage and motivation in her quest to assist her mother to live a better life.

After completing her junior certificate, Ms Kapapa said she started looking for piece jobs to augment her mother’s efforts.

She recalls selling sweets and airtime in front of the post office and later, after learning about youth programmes, she tried her luck but her efforts were thwarted as she could not fill the forms.

The mother of three narrates that she was always pushing to make the most out of her life.

“Even when I was helpless without a job, I remained hopeful that something would happen,” she stressed.

In 2001, Ms Kapapa was hired on a temporary basis by one of the cleaning companies engaged by Maun Administrative Authority (MAA).  

She said while working at MAA as a cleaner, she heard about the Poverty Eradication Programme from her ward councillor at one of the kgotla meetings.

She then visited the social worker to learn more about the programme and its requirements.

That is when she learnt about the layer production pilot project, and she said she did not waste time and approached the relevant department.

Although the layer production project was not her first priority, all she wanted was to start a project which could generate funds and turn her life around.

It was in September 2016 that Ms Kapapa’s application for layer production was approved.

Since it was a pilot project, she was advised to build a poultry house at her homestead in Shashe ward and later received 50 layers, eight 50 kg bags of feeds and medicines to kick start.

She said she also attended a business training workshop organised by the office of the district commissioner where they were equipped with basic skills on how to run a business.

Ms Kapapa stated that her project did not give her hardships because she was determined to produce expected results.

“Production was satisfactory as I managed the layers well even though it was not easy to manage one day old chicks but I did my best,” she added.

She said layers were less labour intensive, adding that proper layer care for consistent supply of high quality of eggs required knowledge and patience to ensure hens were well housed, fed and watered and suffered as little stress as possible.

She said well managed layers, which were protected against diseases, rewarded poultry farmers with a continues supply of high quality marketable eggs.

According to the beneficiary, the market was readily available as they were awarded a tender to supply eggs to some of the primary schools in Maun and surroundings. She also won a tender to supply Botswana Wildlife Training Institute.

Ms Kapapa said she enjoyed a good working relationship with relevant authorities, particularly animal production and the office of the district commissioner as officers monitored progress on a regular basis.

The officers, she said, advised and motivated her, hence the success of her project, revealing that she was making P1 400 weekly on sales.

The project, she said, has made a huge positive impact on her family.

Ms Kapapa said through the profits, she managed to build a modern house for her mother and currently was in the process of developing her plot at New Disana, while on the other hand, she was preparing for marriage.

She pointed out that she has applied for financial assistance from the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) as she intended to expand her project and hire other young people.

Ms Kapapa advised young people to exercise patience in business, adding that every business had its challenges, but that it was upon the owner to turn those challenges into opportunities.ENDS