Retired teacher transforms lemons into sweet success

At an age when many people slow down, Anneli Mutumbulwa is just getting started.The 63-year-old retired agriculture teacher from Oshiyashomatope in the Oshikoto region has embraced her retirement by starting a vibrant, organic home-made produce venture, demonstrating that age is no barrier to start afresh – with a little help from YouTube and local information-sharing sessions.After retiring from teaching, Mutumbulwa chose not to remain idle. Instead, she harnessed the skills and knowledge she acquired over years in the classroom to add value to her local produce.Speaking to Ewi lyaNooli, Mutumbulwa explained that retirement has afforded her more time to learn and grow.“After retiring, I realised I had acquired considerable knowledge as an agriculture teacher, and I have a passion for continuous learning,” she said.She began by attending farmer information-sharing events and conducting research on how to transform raw ingredients into finished products that yield higher profits.“I started watching YouTube tutorials on how to make jam from lemons, as I have lemon trees at home whose fruits often go to waste. Rather than letting them spoil, I sought the best methods to add value,” she said.Her pivotal moment arrived last year after attending several farming events that profoundly altered her perspective on agriculture.“I discovered that with agro-processing, you don’t need to invest additional effort in purchasing ingredients. You simply utilise what you have at home to create something new. This is why we call it pure – no additional ingredients are necessary,” she said.Sweet, sticky jamMutumbulwa’s lemon jam is crafted with meticulous care and patience.She begins by peeling the lemons, placing them in a pot, adding water and cooking them for a while. Next, she adds white sugar, stirs the mixture until it’s ready and allows it to sit overnight. The following day, she packages it for sale.She emphasised that precise measurements are essential.“The peeled lemon must be chopped into small pieces, and the water added should be equivalent to the amount of lemon pieces, along with the right amount of sugar,” she explained.Although many people are still unaware of her jam, those who have tried it consistently give positive feedback.“It’s important to taste the product before making a judgement. Many people pass by local produce, assuming it’s not worth their money,” Mutumbulwa said.“Let’s support local goods. With enough promotion and encouragement, we can increase production,” she urged.A message for young NamibiansMutumbulwa is concerned that young people are not taking advantage of available training opportunities.She encourages the youth to participate in training sessions and start their own businesses, rather than merely selling raw fruits and vegetables.“Many of us have backyard gardens, yet we often resort to selling only raw produce without exploring the potential for value addition,” she said.“I have attended numerous training sessions, but the turnout among young people is low, only a few participate, while it is predominantly the older generation that seeks to innovate. We need to change this narrative,” she stressed.She added that although many young people possess qualifications, it is crucial for them to create unique products, pursue training on value addition and consider it a side venture while simultaneously generating opportunities for others.Energy and visionTo expand her customer base, Mutumbulwa has been attending business expos to showcase her products, and each expo brings in new buyers.Her next aspiration is to see her jam stocked in local shops.She plans to approach retailers to establish agreements, noting that she can produce a large quantity of fresh jars of jam in a single day.“I have all the ingredients readily available, and I can fulfil any order for jam,” she said.Beyond making jam, Mutumbulwa also produces castor oil, which she says helps treat acne, skin irritations and other skin issues. However, she emphasised that castor oil is intended solely for external use.Additionally, she maintains a farm with poultry, goats and pigs, although water access remains a challenge, and she hopes to install a borehole soon.Mutumbulwa also plans to attend training on how to make biscuits from local ingredients, which she believes will complement her existing offerings and provide her customers with more choices.

Retired teacher transforms lemons into sweet success

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-11

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Retired teacher transforms lemons into sweet success

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-11

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