Senkang Finds Niche In Bakery Business

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FRANCISTOWN: After struggling for the most part of her life to make ends meet as a result of a poor salary, 69-year-old Kelebile Senkang finally decided to venture into the competitive bakery business. Senkang, a single mother of eight children and six grandchildren, is a proud beneficiary of the government poverty eradication programme.

She runs a business she started in 2015, at her home in Satellite South location.

She told Monitor Business that before establishing her business she depended on working as a house helper for survival, but says the money she earned could not adequately cater for the demands of her family. “I used to work as a maid for a man who owned a supermarket at Kalakamati village and as a result I fell in love with entrepreneurship,” said Senkang.She stated that one day she decided to pass by the Social and Community Development offices in Francistown to enquire more about the government poverty eradication programme that she once heard of on Radio Botswana (RB1).“I told the social worker that I have an interest in enrolling for the programme and she advised me accordingly.  After that visit I decided to quit my job and relocated to Francistown to start my entrepreneurship journey and I have not looked back since,” said Senkang. Senkang further stated, “I started submitting my proposal in 2012 and it was rejected about three times. I persevered until it was approved in 2015”. She added that the government through the poverty eradication scheme bought her a four-burner gas stove, which has an oven, a gas cylinder, fridge, bowls and a baking pot.  She, however, says that she has now resorted to baking on open fire because the oven is slow.

Editor's Comment
Stakeholders must step up veggie supply

The Ministry of Agriculture, local producers, retailers, and industry associations must work together to overcome the obstacles hindering vegetable production and distribution.This collaborative approach is essential to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of vegetables in the market.Firstly, the Ministry of Agriculture should provide support and guidance to local farmers to enhance their productivity and efficiency. This could...

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