A small, women-owned Namibian business is producing marula oil for beauty purposes.
Taneta Investment is located at Katutura, Windhoek’s Bokamoso Incubation Centre. It works in partnership with local rural women. They buy marula kernels from them and combine traditional knowledge with modern technology in cold pressing the nuts into oil.
“Marula oil can also be used for consumption, because it is edible and it is also is rich in vitamins C, E and antioxidants, which revitalise, nourish and protect skin against premature aging.
“Its light texture allows for easy absorption to keep skin moist and luminous, while marula oil-based hair products prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle,” says Namupa Nengola, the chief executive officer of the company.The company is dedicated to engaging women and ensuring sustainability and safety while producing the best quality marula oil for its clients, the former teacher says.
According to a statement by the United States Embassy in Namibia (US Embassy), the global organic cosmetics market has been growing and there are many export opportunities for Namibian-based businesses like Taneta.
The company was able to successfully obtain organic certification thanks to the support of the Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (“Satih”), a project funded through USAID by the US Agency for International Development.
Taneta Investment purchased marula seeds from 60 rural women from northern Namibia’s Ohangwena region. This number increased to 200 in 2020.
They produce around three tonnes of oil each year.
As part of the organic certification process, the rural women involved were trained on the sustainable harvesting of marula.“The women raise their incomes and living standards by selling marula kernels to Taneta,” Nengola says.
According to the embassy the USAID trade hub also connected Taneta to South Africanbased marketing and trade promotion agencies. This led to a deal with an South African natural and organic retail company and skincare company to supply marula oils products.
Taneta has four marula oils for different purposes, including beard oil, baby oil and hair oil.
The company is steadily increasing its sales both locally and internationally with recent orders from Germany, Spain, and a shipment to a US-based customer in July 2022.
The company’s increasing success in South African markets and global markets is testimony of its philosophy, which aims for the preservation of traditional methods of processing marulas and other fruits.
Nengola states that the new generation of Namibian cosmetics producers is keen to preserve these traditions while improving the livelihoods and conditions of rural women who make up their supply chain.
She says her inspiration to start the business was her grandmother’s success with marula oil and her mother’s.
Taneta’s marula products are available at select retail stores, Namibia Craft Centre, as well as the duty-free shop at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Email: [email protected]
Source: namibian
