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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Chronicle Reporter
VARIOUS groups of women and co-operatives from Matabeleland South Province displayed their creativity and innovation that keep up with modern trends and market demands at the just-ended provincial agricultural show.

The women stood out at this year’s provincial agricultural show through exhibition of various hand-made products.

Their displays comprised products made from forest and agricultural products such as livestock feed, health and beauty products as well as foodstuffs. They also had various products on display such as bags, carpets, mats and shoes made from modern material. Their products made from beads were also evidence of their artistic skills.

In addition to that they also had traditional displays such clay pots, baskets and winnowing baskets, among others.

The 63rd edition of the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show was held from Thursday to Saturday under strict Covid-19 regulations. This year’s show was held under the theme “Embracing the new normal: agriculture towards sustainable economic development,” at the Gwanda Show Grounds.

Exhibitors included crop and livestock farmers, Government departments, various ministries, parastatals, seed companies, non-governmental organisations, uniformed forces, funeral parlours among others.

Also on exhibition were high quality cattle breeds, rabbits, crafts and agricultural products.

The show was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chairperson of Vusanani Co-operative from Natane area in Bulilima, Mrs Judith Ncube, said they had introduced five new products which include marula chicken feed and marula goat feed. Their co-operative produces various products made from marula fruits.

“As you can see, we have our usual products that we normally exhibit at the agricultural show such as marula oil, marula jam, marula nuts and marula butter. This year we have added marula booster, marula syrup, marula foundation, marula chicken feed and marula livestock feed,” she said.

Mrs Ncube said as they continue with their projects, they try to identify new products which they can make out of marula fruits. She said they also identify ways to improve their existing products.

“We realised that after extracting oil from marula nuts, we remain with crumbs which we dispose of. We then decided to give the crumbs to chickens to see whether they would eat them and they responded well. We used to throw away the skin that we peel off from the marula fruits, but we recalled that livestock like cattle, donkeys and goats like to eat that peeled skin. That was when we came up with the idea of drying the skins instead of throwing them away,” she said.

Mrs Ncube said they package the dried skin in 50kg bags and sell to villagers for R100. She said they also package the crumbs from marula nuts and sell at R200 for a 50kg bag and this had become a viable business for them.

Mrs Ncube said their livelihoods have improved through the money they earn from their co-operative, as they had managed to acquire some assets.

“When we started this business in 2010, our goal was to grow our business and there is now a huge difference from the time we started,” she said.

“Our output has increased over the years and we are even supplying pharmacists across the country and in South Africa. Our desire is to continue introducing more products as we improve our products.”

She said they hope to secure an investor to assist them purchase necessary machinery as they were currently crushing the nuts using their hands. She said if they had machinery they could produce in bulk as demand for their products was increasing.

Ms Moddy Shoko from Beitbridge Town, who was exhibiting baobab juice at the show, said they work as Vhasadi Gifted Handa and Brain Co-operative and produce various crafts such as handbags and mats.

“We formed our co-operative last year in June and this is our first time exhibiting at the agricultural show since the show was cancelled last year. We buy baobab fruits in bulk from the rural areas and then extract baobab juice. We first dry then soak the kennels in water and then boil to remove the outside layer,” she said.

Ms Shoko said they sell some of the juice as it is while they package some in small plastic containers to make freezits, which they sell to learners. She said many people love this beverage and they were making good money from selling it. They buy baobab fruit in a 20l bucket for R80 and produce baobab juice valued at R200.

Ms Shoko said they sell some of their baobab juice in 20l buckets while they package some in 500ml bottles.

Mrs Mediah Mazivofa from Beitbridge, who had crafts from various groups of women on display, said they make bags, shoes, beads, carpets, winnowing baskets, key holders, mats among other products. She has assisted in training a number of women from different cooperatives in Beitbridge how to make these products.

Mrs Mazivofa said they also try to incorporate current trends in the products they make in order to remain relevant and they were always looking out for modern raw materials to use for their products.

“As you can see for our bags and carpets, we use what is called a draw string. This is a modern type of string which helps to give a modern look to what we make. We want our clients to be able to carry these bags even when going to town and want our carpets to bring an elegant look to the house. We don’t just make products, but we also consider what the clients want,” she said. — @DubeMatutu