19 Nov 2024

Selebi Phikwe is known for its greenery and captivating beauty because of the flourishing beautiful and colourful gardens in many homesteads, and this has bred the culture of making a living through selling ornamental plants among the community.

Botshabelo Sejankabo (62), who resides in Pimville location, is an inspiration to many women in the ornamental plants business as she spends hours tending to her garden, planting seeds, pruning, weeding and nurturing the soil.

She boasts of a mini nursery in her yard with a variety of unique and stunning plants, ranging from fruit tree to vibrant flowering plants with fragrant scent to cater to the needs and specific preferences of her customers.

“Selling ornamental plants is a rewarding business that one can do in the comfort of her home. As a retiree I no longer have the energy to sell at the mall, my customers come directly to my house to buy,” said Ms Sejankabo.

Having started this business a long time ago whilst still employed, she has managed to build a large clientele base among them government departments, individuals from Selebi Phikwe and surrounding villages.

“Some of my clients come as far as Francistown and Gaborone to buy these ornamental plants”, she added.

She encouraged other women to start small businesses at home especially those that they can run in the comfort of their homes whilst taking care of their families.

Though she is doing well in her little corner, working individually tends to stifle her business as she has to battle with the challenge that come with her business alone.

One challenging aspect is lack of nursery in Selebi Phikwe where they can buy a variety of exotic plants from.

The idea of forming a cooperation once crossed her mind and together with other women in the industry they tried to form a cooperative with the aim to establish a nursery.

However, the idea was never implemented because of lack of commitment.

Mma Tshepo as she is affectionately called by her customers, does not only sustain her family through this small business rather she has developed a strong bond with her plants.

Gardening, she said is a bonding activity that one can do with their children and also great for their development and therefore, he encouraged those in the business of ornamental plants to involve their children not only to enhance bonding but also to impart knowledge. ENDS