By Neo Kolane
A researcher Molete Letompa has found means to market herbs and bring value out of them for Basotho and the country as a whole.
It is after his research that Letompa founded his company Mountain Herbs in June 2021 which was later registered in September of the same year.
Mountain Herbs is an African provider of healthy natural medicinal plants.
The business provides quality products that improve and enhance life. All the products are harvested by well-trained harvesters and conform to environmental regulations of Lesotho, in regard to sustainable harvesting and protection of flora and fauna.
“Working closely with the communities is at the heart of our company to improve and sustain livelihood in these communities,” Letompa said.
It is headquartered in the Leribe district.
The company supplies rosehip product which is the main product as well as Stinging nettle, Pelargonium, Hippophae Rhamnoides, African Wormwood and Helichrysum Odoratismum.
The significance of the plants is that they bring health benefits to the people.
Letompa said with the other products, their market is busy being built. Few shipments were made for testing Stinging Nettle and Hippophae Rhamnoids.
He told theReporter that the idea started in April 2019 when he realised that there is a lot of rosehip in the country
He instinctively figured that he needed to do something about that product and bring value to the people where rosehip is grown in order for them to earn a living.
He said Rosehips are mostly grown in the mountains places like Ha Lejone and Katse and in the Thaba Tseka district, Botha-Bothe and Motete.
“When I started I supplied a company called The Rosehip which is based in Mohale’s Hoek. I also worked with the Rosehip farm, a company in South Africa,” Letompa indicated.
Before harvesting start, the 31-year old said the harvesters are trained on sustainable harvesting practices and cleanliness on handling the products after harvesting.
He said the harvesters are also trained on how to store the product away from chemicals in their homes
He revealed that Rosehip market is mostly in Europe, the aim of Mountain Herbs is to tap in this market.
“I am not the only one doing this in Lesotho, but what stands out for my business is that we work directly with the people who are harvesting.
“The standards we apply in harvesting helps us stand out as Mountain Herbs because we align ourselves with organic regulation standards for food. We also have traceability system that we use,” Letompa said.
Rosehip is a rich source of Vitamin C, with about 1700-2000 mg per 100 g in dried product; remedy for rheumatoid arthritis; reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis; helps the immune system to fight off foreign invaders and out of control cells and facilitates fat metabolism.
Pelargonium sidoides is a herb that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat infectious respiratory disease, dysentery, and diarrhoea.
Hippophae Rhamnoides possesses strong antioxidant properties so it is used to improve blood pressure and lipids, to prevent and control cardiovascular symptoms (e.g. angina), to reduce free radical levels and prevent atheroma.
African Wormwood is used for various digestion problems such as loss of appetite, upset stomach, gall bladder disease and intestinal spasms. Wormwood is also used to treat fever, liver disease, depression, muscle pain, memory loss and worm infections; to increase sexual desire; as a tonic; and to stimulate sweating.
Helichrysum Odoratismum is widely used as a perfume and to repel insects. Southern Sotho women make a perfumed ointment from this plant. Leaves and stems are widely used as incense to invoke the goodwill of the ancestors; the smoke is sedative and helpful for insomnia.
Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anaemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.)
Molete Letompa can be contacted on mobile number +266-5795 3277. Info@mountainherbsstore.com
