A local company packages Serobe

Ulla Setswalo | Monday March 9, 2015 16:47

Tripe is a popular relish in Botswana and South Africa; it contains tripe, casings, salt and water.  Setso was made three years ago and had to wait to see if it will survive its three-year shelf life. The results were positive and the product has been given a green light to be produced in larger quantities. 

Many can remember the canned tripe from the Botswana Television’s Morning show three years ago where it received massive response from tripe lovers. 

The canned tripe also scooped first prize as Most Innovative Exhibitor at SMME exposition that was organised by Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) in April 2011.

The former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae is one of the inspiration behind Setso product as his advice to fellow countrymen on starting up businesses and avoiding dependence on government handouts, resonated with Sento.

With her passion and drive, Sento tried a never-before done business of canning Setswana food as her partner has a wealth of experience in the canning industry.

“I am very happy that our product’s results were positive as we had waited for years,’’ said Sento.

She further said that she is now looking for financial help to start production of Setso again.

DFP will have to cross a few hurdles to start production such as conforming to the provisions of the Livestock and Meat Industry Act, training of employees and other processes.

Sento stated that they would prefer their company based in Lobatse as there are ample resources there because of proximity to Botswana Meat Commission. At the moment, Sento has a few challenges such as high capital input required, safety, health and environmental issues.

She has difficulty in penetrating the retail shops and wholesalers when trying to acquire loans from local financial institutions who have laid down stringent requirements, that is, contribution and security including undefined timelines from service providers.

These are important milestones before passing processes of getting necessary documentation to start manufacturing.

Setso Tripe was first produced on a pilot basis on April 26, 2011 and kept for  three-year to check the shelf life by National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC).

It was tested in October 2014 and it passed. Actually, the results confirm that the product is stable after three years.

The same laboratory test report, affirms and addresses public health aspects from the safety point of view.

By and large, the product is targeted for the local market including tourists who may treat it as a souvenir to share with their families upon their return from Botswana.  Serobe is mostly eaten at weddings and funerals and people never get enough of it, as it is very delicious yet it takes a lot of time to prepare.

With Setso, people can now enjoy the delicacy anywhere by pre-heating or pre-cooking and serving with mealie meal, bread or any desired starch.

Already, people are calling DFP to make orders, even local and international supermarkets are willing to distribute and sell the product.

DFP took a step further to test market the product during NFTRC Open Day in March 2011 held at Kanye and during LEA SMME conference in April 2011 in Gaborone. This was in other words a survey conducted to get feedback from consumers who were from a diversity of people across Botswana.

The support was overwhelming and this is where the project owners derived the motivation.  Besides these achievements, there have been lots of interest expressed across our borders but there is need for business promoters to demonstrate capacity to satisfy the local market first and sustain the business.

Sento is a gifted and business-minded woman who has other several companies including Marsh Interiors and a haulage company, Successful Team.

She is also the Vice Secretary General for WIBA, a powerful association for women in business.  The Setso initiative is a great way of also selling our culture and tourism to the world.

“ We want to be in operation this year so that people across the globe can enjoy Setso tripe anytime they want,” said Sento.  DFP wants to create employment for locals and also be the pioneers of taking Botswana’s food to the world.