10 Oct 2016

Preserving summer fruits in jams and marmalades is a tradition for many.

By producing her signature marmalade jam, Ms Goitsemodimo Letubo joined a number of those who kept the legacy alive.

Speaking in an interview, Ms Letubo who hails from Bobonong, said she decided to venture into jam production business in order to relieve herself from abject poverty.

“I focused on using lerotse, and sugar to produce the jam, which had a tangy marmalade as well as lerotse flavour”, she explained.

She was planning to advance her business to incorporate production of watermelon jam, tomato jam and other flavours.

“At the moment I produce from 30 to 40 cans of jam per day and my customers at the moment are individuals from Bobonong and surrounding villages,” she said.
 

To start the project, Ms Letubo said she used her family’s savings with the intention of consulting financial institutions such as gender affairs for financial assistance to help expand her business.
 

“Currently I am running the business as a sole proprietor,” she said.

Nonetheless she appreciated the challenges that came with running the business describing them as an eye opener.

She highlighted production challenges, among them, shortage of good and right equipment to do the production process.

Although I did not have any formal education on business, I used the knowledge and skills adopted in Bobonong and Gaborone shows as my line of business entailed, “she continued.

She said by seeing what other people had done at the shows, her curiosity and interest in the jam production business developed to another level. ENDS