![]() I was against this business as I thought people would think she is mad. "I used to see my wife packaging soil when she started this business and I thought it was a waste of time. It is better than craving for expensive and unhealthy foods like fried chips and chicken among others. I tell them not to eat too much of it, but as long as the money is coming in, I am happy. "Some women buy up to five packets each day meaning that they consume all those packets on a single day. It is not only women from high density suburbs that eat soil," said Mr Moyo. Women come all the way from eastern suburbs, from all classes, to these places that some may call dingy. People crave this thing so those that eat it buy almost on a daily basis. The good thing with this business is that there is a very reliable client base because it is sort of addictive. It gives me money although a lot of people do not take me seriously. The only thing that costs me is the packaging. "I sell a sachet for 40 cents and in a day I get a minimum of 50 bond. Mr Khumbulani Moyo who has been making a living out of selling soil says he has managed to feed his family for eight years out of the soil business. Vendors who sell soil say it gives them better profits than selling fresh produce. One may not feel the consequences immediately but in the long run the results are dire," said Dr Ngwenya. People who eat soil are just dicing with death. People who consume a lot of soil may also face acute challenges in bowel movements. "Excessive consumption of soil can lead to a blockage of the intestines, which would need surgery as the soil would have blocked food from passing. The thing is just so acceptable in our society but it can have grave consequences and eventually can lead to death," said Dr Ngwenya. ![]() They should take iron supplements instead. "People who eat soil are usually doing it because they are anaemic. He said it is a sign that someone is anaemic. Mpilo Hospital Clinical Director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said eating soil is a very dangerous practice for women which must be stopped. The practice of eating soil is called geophagy and spans across decades, if not centuries.ĭemand is up among women who crave this peculiar cuisine and the number of vendors who sell it in Bulawayo is rapidly increasing. Many women experience iron deficiency during pregnancy and subsequently develop a craving for soil and as a result, soil is big business for some people. I like to think of it as the smell of nature, pure and fresh. The smell of soil after light rains is divine.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |