Oshakati vendors offer mahangu field services
During mahangu cropping season, a group of vendors from Oshakati put their struggling business on hold for a few months to cultivate mahangu in order to generate more money.
Started in 2009, the Tulimeni Omapya Group consists of seven men and three women who offer to cultivate mahangu anywhere in northern Namibia.
According to group spokesperson Ester Kandenge, the financial strain experienced by many people in January prompted them to try their hand at mahangu growing for two months of the year.
Kandenge says they earn five times more in these two months than they usually earn from selling goods in town. “We are now 11 years in this business and everything is going just well. Our group consists of vendors from the Oshakati Open Market, as well as street vendors. It has now become our tradition that each year, crop season is a period for us to make more money. We hire people to look after our business while we are working in the mahangu fields,” she says. “We offer cultivation services everywhere in the four northern regions, including Kavango West. We charge according to the size of the field and the method of transport to get to the customer. If the field is big or far, we have our camping facilities and we just camp until such a time when we are done.” She said at first it was shameful to be seen working in other people's mahangu fields, but once they attracted more customers they started enjoying the work. After all these years, they have developed skills and a passion for cultivating mahangu. Kandenge says the money they earn in the mahangu fields is mainly used to buy more stock for their trading stalls, and with the profit they can support their families. “People from all over the place are demanding our services. Therefore, depending on the size of the field, we divide ourselves into groups and during the days when we are just around Oshakati or Ondangwa we sometimes end up making up to N$5 000 just in one day,” she says.
“It is a relaxing job and the only challenge is when it is raining for days on end.” She admits that sometimes people make fun of them, but they don't care as they are earning good money. She advises other Namibians who sit at home complaining about poverty to get up and work for themselves.
“Every day on the radio farmers are looking for people to work at their farms. This is an indication that the service is in demand. Don't worry about people mocking you, tomorrow they are coming to you to borrow money to buy food or support their children. Money is just the same and can just solve the same problems,” she says. “We are proud mahangu cultivators and anyone who needs our service can call our office number on 081 317 5153.”
ILENI NANJDATO
Started in 2009, the Tulimeni Omapya Group consists of seven men and three women who offer to cultivate mahangu anywhere in northern Namibia.
According to group spokesperson Ester Kandenge, the financial strain experienced by many people in January prompted them to try their hand at mahangu growing for two months of the year.
Kandenge says they earn five times more in these two months than they usually earn from selling goods in town. “We are now 11 years in this business and everything is going just well. Our group consists of vendors from the Oshakati Open Market, as well as street vendors. It has now become our tradition that each year, crop season is a period for us to make more money. We hire people to look after our business while we are working in the mahangu fields,” she says. “We offer cultivation services everywhere in the four northern regions, including Kavango West. We charge according to the size of the field and the method of transport to get to the customer. If the field is big or far, we have our camping facilities and we just camp until such a time when we are done.” She said at first it was shameful to be seen working in other people's mahangu fields, but once they attracted more customers they started enjoying the work. After all these years, they have developed skills and a passion for cultivating mahangu. Kandenge says the money they earn in the mahangu fields is mainly used to buy more stock for their trading stalls, and with the profit they can support their families. “People from all over the place are demanding our services. Therefore, depending on the size of the field, we divide ourselves into groups and during the days when we are just around Oshakati or Ondangwa we sometimes end up making up to N$5 000 just in one day,” she says.
“It is a relaxing job and the only challenge is when it is raining for days on end.” She admits that sometimes people make fun of them, but they don't care as they are earning good money. She advises other Namibians who sit at home complaining about poverty to get up and work for themselves.
“Every day on the radio farmers are looking for people to work at their farms. This is an indication that the service is in demand. Don't worry about people mocking you, tomorrow they are coming to you to borrow money to buy food or support their children. Money is just the same and can just solve the same problems,” she says. “We are proud mahangu cultivators and anyone who needs our service can call our office number on 081 317 5153.”
ILENI NANJDATO
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