31 Jul 2013

Five young women in Botshabelo ward in Selebi Phikwe have started a small company called  Unique Perfect Recipe that makes jam and atchaar.

A representative of the company, Miss Kerapetse Ramatsiri said they produced two types of jam called orange-marmalade jam as well as popo jam and also made three different types of atchaar namely mixed veg atchaar, fish atchaar and carrot atchaar.

Previously, the women were unemployed and had no basic revenue to take care of their lives and families but thanks to the government’s empowerment programmes, they have a project that serves as a source of revenue and could now take care of their livelihoods and families. According to Miss Ramatsiri, initially they started the project in a back yard in 2011 and relocated after getting funding from the gender office.  

She said after doing some research and coming up with a recipe, they bought the ingredients needed and started producing their goods at home. She said later on they sent the samples NEFTEC for analysis and approval.

She explained that after NEFTEC approved their produce, they contacted the national gender office to seek assistance and financial back up. She said in April 2012, they received financial assistance from the organization at a tune of P137 000 to start the project.

But before commencing the project, she said the department engaged them in some training at food crops to acquire the necessary and relevant skills to produce their products and company management. She said the project was progressing well as many Batswana were supportive and some had become regular customers.

She said they had not yet gained any market from retail shops in Selebi Phikwe or other places in the country but were optimistic that they will soon make it big and supply many shops with their product. She explained that the jam was the most popular as it had been making good sales in the area.

“Orange-marmalade jam is P15, popo jam P16, mixed vegetable atchaa rand orange carrot atchaar sells for P18 each while fish atchaar sells at P30,”she said. She encouraged other women to come up with ideas and start projects to sustain their lives, saying government had many programmes aimed at empowering people.

She encouraged them to contact the gender office to access funding. Other members of the company included Ms Motlalepula Mosebudi, Ms Julia Molapo, Ms Keneilwe Sammuel and Ms Kgomotso Molapo. Ends