WARONA MILLS OPTIMISTIC OF GROWTH
Warona Mills, a citizen owned company, seeks to revolutionise the milling industry. Led by a very ambitious Managing Director, Thatayaone Marope, aged 32 years, the company looks to cast its net outside the Botswana borders in future.
Marope is a beneficiary of the Youth Development Fund, and is based in Palapye New Industrial. The company which started operations in August 2021, mills a number of sorghum products that include, Mosutlhwane (sorghum rice), Ntlatlawane, Korong as well as Samp. The company was one of the companies that recently exhibited at the just ended Consumer Fair, under the Local Enterprise Authority hub.
His journey into this industry was influenced by his love for the intricate process of milling. Growing up, he has always loved mills. In fact, he recalls a time when he used to frequent mills while running errands for the family. He would observe the process, and enjoyed seeing how a raw product was transformed. The Metsimotlhabe native tells this publication that these visits built his immense love for mills. “I also had a friend whose family had a mill in Sebina, and I used to visit him, so that I could learn and understand how a mill works,” he explains. In 2016, he registered his milling company and applied for YDF in 2020. His company, which happens to be named after his daughter, was formed as he had a deep desire to feed the nation. “Covid-19 also necessitated the need for me to start operations, and do what I can to feed the nation,” he explains. Explaining the whole process of his operation, and why his products are different from those in the market, he explains that he has taken a different route to peeling the bran (go tlhobola). Others in the industry remove a lot of bran, but he notes that this bran is very essential in today’s diet. Today, the company has five employees including him, and the majority of the employees are mostly the youth. The company presently supplies a number of government departments, as well as General Dealers and individuals in the area. He shares that he is working on getting the right paperwork from BOBS, in order to distribute into retail supermarkets. His long-term vision is to see his company growing, and expanding its footprints outside the borders of Botswana. He also wishes to employ more youth, and give them an opportunity to earn an income. “I want to create opportunities for the youth, as most are unemployed,” he says. Quizzed on why he chose to set up his company in Palapye, he points out that he saw an opportunity in Palapye. “I also opted for Palapye as it is closer to Pandamatenga, which is the biggest producer of grains in Botswana,” he says, adding that he also gets his raw material from local farmers as well as Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board. According to Marope, one of the challenges that his company faces is shortage of grain.