Interview With the founder and director of Organic Juices, Mr. Moarabi Makutu from Serowe, the former Head Master of AWIL College through AFDA Botswana and a former lecture at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Botswana holds a master’s degree in MA Mass Communications and a BA in the same field focused on Film and Television. We recently had an interview with Mr. Makutu about his journey on starting a business which produces a foreign product using home grown farm produce. Read more on the interview below.
Take us through your journey of starting a business
I did my BA and MA in Asia, Asia people take much pride in their home grown farm produce and they made juices and food out of them, I was amazed on seeing this as we don’t have these things back home. I took the business idea back home after i was done with school, it might seem strange but I was told in a dream to take that path, the path of making juices from home grown farm produce. I told my family i was going to quit my job and juicing home grown produce as a business, the first thing i did was to acquire the juice process machine which will help me process the Ntshe and Legapu Juices.
It had its challenges getting the machine this side from Zimbabwe got advices from a friend how to go about it, but it came we started making Ntshe Juice advertising it on social media platforms and getting customers hyped up about it that’s when we added Legapu Juice.
What process do you use to juice your products in terms of involvement and producing the juice?
The Legapu Juice goes through a two way process which is cold press system and high pressure process were we retain 100% nutrients unlike other juices sold in supermarkets as nutrients are added during the process of the juice making. I currently do the juicing process myself as there was no one in Botswana when we started the business who had experience in the juicing products that we have. So I decided to quit my job in order to learn and process the juicing and making the juices. I’m also involved in the research and development (RND) continues to contribute as well as quality management of the products.
What flavours do you offer with your juices?
The flavours that Organic Tswana has at the moment are the have Ntshe Juice which sold without any added flavours same with the Legapu Juice, Ntshe Juice rather has its flavours being ginger and lemon. We also have Ice Coffee which is available on all seasons. Legapu Juice and Ntshe Juice are seasonal thus coming up with Ice Coffee after mind searching which is available which is available in all seasons. Our products are foreign to Botswana as we have never had of bottled Ntshe or Legapu, cold coffee before and that on its own is mind blowing to Batswana.
What inspired you to start this business?
Weirdly again, I had a simple dream, all the things I have done up until this stage where influenced by a dream I had and my biggest inspiration is my twin cousin whom I’ve seen doing amazing things, pushing businesses all over the place and striving.
Which expos have you attended with your business in contribution to your business growth?
This past Friday we attended the Botswana Innovation Day under the IKS with the products we produce, we have had exhibitions around malls such as in Ramotswa, Mochudi and we aim to exhibit in rural areas in order to share our products. That has added to our growth as Organic Tswana but Young Minds Africa has contributed to out growth by having to guided us through management systems, financial understanding in terms of business as they have been impactful to me to help me understand marketing branding.
Where do you see Organic Tswana in 2024?
I believe doors will open in the Southern African markets for us to put out our products to African consumers, get more financing we need, get advantageous relationships which will expose us to African and International Markets and potential partnerships on board. We have already opened doors in certain African markets and we hope we will be able to reach those markets once everything is settled in having employed indirectly and directly 100 people in Botswana and getting more machinery to help with mass production of the products.
What are the challenges you face as a business person?
The biggest challenge I believe every business has is Mind set, i remember when we started we received backlash after advertising our Ntshe Juice from Batswana because of the unique and foreign product they are not used to. That kind of backlash can shake any ground of businesses. The other challenge would be issues of finances as we are not where we want to be as the machinery we need to push the products require hectic financing. Botswana weather system has made it impossible to predict since we deal with farm produce which we get directly from Batswana as we want to go far with Batswana.
Supporting each other’s business.
Where can customers find Organic Tswana Products?
They aren’t yet In shop but we working on that. However one can reach out on WhatApp 72927998 or visit our social media pages Facebook and Instagram. Organic Tswana and make orders.
