Baobab, a wild fruit, has slowly been entering the mainstream commerce with Zimbabweans discovering its commercial value. The duo found a way to get on the trail and improve the lives of villagers in Nyanyadzi, a baobab-rich area in Manicaland.
Their market is largely local at the moment because of bureaucratic constraints. Despite the challenges faced in their operation, they hope the new political environment will benefit them.
“I got to know about this product through a friend who is now my business partner. What drew me to do this project was my realisation of how it is simple and carries very high returns,” said Nyikavaranda. “We get baobab from the villagers, per day we produce about 25 kilogrammes. We are hoping to increase our scale as our market presence grows.”
An article on herald.co.zw explains how baobab powder serves as an ingredient for many nutritious foodstuffs including sports drinks, yoghurt, muffins, scones, juices and smoothies among other things. The baobab season starts in April and ends in September.
