Muofhe's love of achaar puts food on her table

Growing up in Mamvuka village in the Nzhelele Valley, Muofhe Ratshikombo loved achaar so much that she would have it with every meal. Today, she is the founder of Oumie’s Grandé Achaar, with eight permanent and 14 seasonal workers in her employ.

Muofhe said that the idea of starting an achaar business came when she was still a child as she used to help her grandmother, Oumie, sell homemade achaar in the village. “During mango season, my grandmother and I used to pick mangoes from the village's orchards to prepare mango achaar. I would sell it to students and teachers from local schools as well as the neighbourhood. Over time, we noticed that the quality of the achaar we were producing began to decline, impacting our business negatively,” she said.

She said she became curious to understand how achaar was made and how it can be produced to last longer. “Despite financial constraints, I persuaded my family to [let me] pursue a degree in agricultural development and extension, so that I could have a deeper understanding of how this amazing food is produced. I was able to save money to launch my business when an international brewing company offered me an internship in agri-development, beginning in January 2021,” she explained.

After years of patience and hard work, Oumie’s Grandé Achaar was born. The product was named after her grandmother, “Oumie”, and opened in 2021. The business has now expanded. “We are currently operating in Limpopo and Gauteng,” she added.

She said her long-term goal was to be recognized globally as a leading agro-processing enterprise. “We passionately manufacture, supply, and distribute traditional handmade fruits, vegetables, and condiments. Our products celebrate heritage, designed to evoke the warmth of home with every bite. We believe in open communication and integrity in all our dealings.”

She further said the aim of the business was not to make a tidy profit for herself but rather to help the youth in the community.

Date:07 April 2024

By: Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

Read: 1903