VOA标准英语2012--Marula Oil to Fight Poverty in Swaziland

 

Marula Oil to Fight Poverty in Swaziland

They say money does not grow on trees, but for Sibongile Ndzinisa, it kind of does. In her backyard, the fallen fruits from her marula tree are her new source of income. She supplies the local factory which makes cosmetic¹ products out of the marula nut kernel². Each day, she cracks nuts. And every two weeks, she brings bags of kernels³ to the factory. They buy them from her for about $3.35 per kilo. Ndzinisa, who lives with her husband and her grandson, says she now makes about $37 per month.

“It didn't completely change my life, but at least it allows me to buy some food and get what I need for the house, so it does make a little difference,” Ndzinisa said.

Just a few years ago, Ndzinisa would not have thought you could make anything out of the marula tree fruit other than alcohol. She learned about the new business opportunity from the village chief.

Standing⁴ in the middle of the countryside, this factory is where Swazi Secret cosmetic products are made and marketed as 100% organic. The marula nut kernels are pressed to extract their rich oil which is used in body lotion⁵, soaps, and lip balm. Zanele Nsibande, the commercial manager, says marula oil is an excellent moisturizer.

“It's known for its natural antioxidants. It's rich in vitamin E. It's got anti-age properties. It's a moisturizer. It's not like real oil, because it's not oily. It goes smooth into your skin and we had different feedback from customers that it reduces stretch marks from women,” Nsibande said.

Nsibande credits the queen of Swaziland for helping⁶ found the business concept here, after noting it at work in Botswana. The factory opened in 2005 thanks to the sponsorship of the Kellogg Foundation. Today, the factory has 15 seasonal⁷ workers, and 3,000 women providing kernels. They prepare boxes for shipment to Germany, the United-States and France - the biggest market for marula products.

At the main mall of Mbabane, Swaziland's capital city, the Green Cross pharmacy⁸ proudly displays the locally made cosmetics⁹ on the shelves. Saleswoman Rose Nyembe says they are very popular with foreigners.

“They are quite popular, because most of the people who are from out of the country buy the most. Sometimes you find the person needs bags of different types of marula things. It can be a good gift, because it's not something you know, it's something different,“ Nyembe said.

And with more than 2 million marula trees growing naturally in the small kingdom, Swaziland's newest industry may have a bright future. 

1 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

2 kernel   

n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心

参考例句：

• The kernel of his problem is lack of money.他的问题的核心是缺钱。
• The nutshell includes the kernel.果壳裹住果仁。

3 kernels   

谷粒( kernel的名词复数 )； 仁； 核； 要点

参考例句：

• These stones contain kernels. 这些核中有仁。
• Resolving kernels and standard errors can also be computed for each block. 还可以计算每个块体的分辨核和标准误差。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 lotion   

n.洗剂

参考例句：

• The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
• She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

8 pharmacy   

n.药房，药剂学，制药业，配药业，一批备用药品

参考例句：

• She works at the pharmacy.她在药房工作。
• Modern pharmacy has solved the problem of sleeplessness.现代制药学已经解决了失眠问题。

9 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。