A Namibian entrepreneur is turning locally sourced peanuts into a growing agro-processing business at Swakopmund. 

While producing peanut butter, Frans Shivute and his wife, Constance, are helping farmers reduce waste and create jobs. 

The Shivutes are transforming raw peanuts into four peanut butter flavours, ready for the retail market. 

Frans Shivute started Langa's Agricultural Business after seeing large amounts of farm produce go to waste across open markets. 

"You see a lot of cabbages that are rotten and tomatoes that are rotten. Somehow, somewhere, we need to add value to these things."

The peanut butter project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, after his butchery closed.

However, the company only managed to produce the first packaged products in November 2025. 

"And then I used to tell my wife, 'What must we do?' Then we came upon this peanut butter. But then the challenge was, where do we get the peanuts? So initially we didn't know that there are big peanut farmers here. Until I did my research, they told us that most of the farmers are just planting groundnuts for their animal feed."

After sourcing peanuts from local farmers, including growers in Etunda, the business became part of a crucial value chain linking farmers to consumers. 

"When I had the conversation with a lot of farmers, they said, 'For us, you guys that are in agro-processing, you guys are giving us hope. Because most of the Namibian products have just been consumed as raw products."

The factory currently employs four workers, most of them women, with plans to grow the number to 15. 

Despite challenges like testing facilities, packaging and access to major retailers, production is steadily increasing. 

As demand grows through local resellers, Shivute says his goal is to make local products part of everyday life. 

"We will make it fashionable for every household to have our peanut butter in their house. So a lot of people, especially the youth, have taken the opportunity to grab the opportunity to resell. Because it's a hot topic in Namibia, especially on social media."

With more than 3,000 jars of peanut butter produced this month, this small factory and its local supply chain are making it clear that value addition can change lives.