NFTRC conducts two trainings at a go…..

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National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC) on the 12-16 February conducted two trainings, one on Processing of Fruits and Vegetables, and the other on Extraction of Vegetable Oil and Processing of Nut Products.

Fifteen of the trainees were sponsored by the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), through a project sponsored by the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) six of them came to do Fruits and Vegetables training and nine were doing Extraction of Vegetable Oil and Processing of Nut Products. Twelve trainees were self- sponsored individuals doing Extraction of Vegetable Oil and Processing of Nut Products.

When interviewed Bobe Lebao from Kaudwane in Kweneng West said she is more focused on kgengwe (wild melon). Bobe said before the training she did not know that it was possible to make a living out of kgengwe. She added that she took kgengwe to BUAN to do research on it, and they had confirmed that it could be used for processing several products. She also mentioned that she chose kgengwe because it is plenty at her home village.

She had come to NFTRC to learn how to make kgengwe fruit leather, and other products that can be made from it, such as snacks and juice. When asked about the market, she said so far, they will be the first people to introduce that kind of business, and hopefully people would love their products.

She finally urged the people, especially the youth, to look around their localities and find what they could use to make a living, instead of focusing on finding jobs.

Baokeditswe Matsuakata from Malwelwe, 24km from Letlhakeng, said he was sponsored by BUAN to learn how to make oil out of veldt products. He said there is plenty of morama in their area which is why he chose this course. He added that so far there is no one who runs that kind of business, so he wants to be the first one.

They both applauded NFTRC for the good service offered to them, and concluded that they would keep on preaching about NFTRC services wherever they go, and encourage their    age-mates to use the opportunity to be trained at NFTRC.

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