By: Zethu Gweva
After almost losing his sight to diabetes Thozamile Landingwe from Dimbaza near King Williams Town manufactures a sugar-free homemade tomato jam for people living with diabetes.
According to Landingwe, Xhamela Jam was produced by himself in 2016 and since he is diabetic he decided to not make regular jam but a preserve that is suitable for people living with diabetes. He said they decided to do a value chain where the tomatoes can be transformed into jam.
“I found out I was diabetic in 2005 and in 2009 and I lost my sight for two years but since there was nothing else I could do and I enjoyed doing agriculture, I decided to focus on farming,” said Landingwe.
Speaking about the challenges they face when manufacturing their product, Landingwe said the health and safety costs are expensive. They need an industrial kitchen since they produce the product in a small kitchen, the struggle of their low glycemic index emblem products to be stored in supermarket shelves and being accredited.
“We need bigger pots which are used for processing, a delivery bakkie and working capital. However since we use money out of our own pockets, we do not have the proper equipment to make our product,” he said.
A former student at the University of Fort Hare who graduated his Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) in Agricultural Economics and Landingwe’s business partner, Sifiso Leve, said they are looking for funding as they want to empower unemployed graduates.
“We will need marketing, finance officers, general workers and people who have done hospitality. We will cook and process the product for ourselves,” said Leve.
Leve expressed that the product is currently stocked in Gonubie Superspar, Nahoon Fisheries, Oxford Fruit and Veg, Pinecreek Restaurant and Farmstall and Floridale Farmstall for marketing purposes. He added that their prices are not yet stable and they range from R29 to R49.
As much as the product is not yet exposed to bigger markets, they get paid for marketing the product in the above-mentioned supermarkets. Landingwe said the profit is not enough as they have to utilize the same money to advertise the products and it is expensive.
Leve expressed that they need the government’s assistance since they intend to improve South Africa’s economy and reduce the high unemployment rate.
“We want to start inspiring people from villages and townships as we are from those places and we would appreciate it if the government could lend us an ear to talk about agro-processing and we aspire to be a big company,” he said.