11 Jul 2018

Ms Kgomoetsho Ramogae is a living example that one is never too old to be self reliant.

At 78 years, the veteran entrepreneur born and bred in Kanye  wakes up every morning knowing that she has to work hard in order to put food on the tabble.

Operating from her self made back yard in Ntlhantlhe, the agile forest lover has proven to be one born with the expedition to thrive despite her old age. 

BOPA met her at Ntlhantlhe kgotla, where she exhibited her products during the 2018 World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD), hosted by the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR). 

She said her dream had always been to become an economically independent Motswana who could contribute to the expansion of the country’s gross domestic products hence formulation of her forestry back yard business, where she has been planting both fruits and decorative trees since 1958. 

“From childhood I have always wanted to ride in a high wave of personal achievement whilst being my own boss and also creating jobs for other people,” she said. 

With her vision, she knew that education was the key weapon for her success and that was when she enrolled for forestry management course with DFRR, which she said it always came handy when meeting her challenges. 

In recognising her encouraging deeds, Ms Ramogae said the DFRR liaised her with Social and Community Development (S&CD) personnel where she benefited through Poverty Eradication programme in 2008. 

“They attended to my business needs and I was given equipment including jojo tank, watering cans and garden net. 

All this saw my business gaining momentum more so that less power was needed for daily operations hence its sustainability.”

Her prices are determined by the type and size of the plant and they range from P25 to P50. 

She explained that from way back, life has never been difficult for her as the business has always been able to sustain her on a daily basis and unlike working people who are paid monthly, she said she was happy that her business pays her almost daily. 

However, like any other business Ms Ramogae conceded that her business also experienced challenges citing old age and lack of manpower as well as seasonality of produce and water shortage which has hit the district as major hiccups, but noted that with dedication and love of her business she was not deterred. 

Quizzed about the importance of trees, she said people must understand that healthy food was sourced from the environment which must be protected and cared for in order for it to continue providing the healthy food needed by humanity to stay healthy and as such communities to plant trees in their yards.

She said trees produced oxygen which all human beings inhale, thus they were the environmental ‘lungs’ and their fruits needed for daily nutritional intake for the human body to stay active and that trees gave home aesthetic look whereas some were used as herbs. 

She commended government for her commitment to ensuring that lives of ordinary citizens changed through programmes such as poverty eradication. ENDS