Charles Ndeumane
ONGEWEDIVA – While most Namibians only know Marula fruits for producing juice and traditional cooking oil (odjove), Ongwediva resident Nangula Mwanyangapo has found a creative way to produce jam, adding value to the fruits.
She said she realised that many Namibians love Marula products, and she wanted to add value to them, which is how she came up with Marula jam.
“I wanted to come up with a high-grade local product made from something that most Namibians love. I thought Marula was great. It is organic, and it has many health benefits,” she stated.
“I started with this business in 2010, and it has grown since. I do not have a shop yet, but our products can be found in a mini market at Okatana. I use a very easy method to produce this jam.
I don’t like seeing Marula fruits go to waste because people say not all Marula trees bear suitable fruits for making juice – but with the jam, all fruits are suitable,” she noted.
Besides making an income by selling her jams, Mwanyangapo said she likes donating jam to special schools.
She said she wants to maintain the purity and health properties of the fruit, hence she adds only sugar and flavouring ingredients to the jam.