NESHA Asgar, a conventional but reserved stay-at-home mother and grandmother who doesn’t like to sit still idly, has a roadside stall in front of her house where she sells fresh fruits, lime pepper sauce, and mango achar.

The Mon Choisi — formerly Number Five Village — West Coast Berbice resident, who lives on the main public road, finds it convenient to establish a roadside stall where she vends seasonal fruits, homemade lime pepper sauce, and mango achar.

In addition, Asgar also sells creole eggs when they are locally in stock, and it is the same with fruits — she would buy from local farmers to resell for a small profit to bring in extra income for her household.

She presently has fresh-picked sapodillas, ripe mangoes, and kayan bananas, all at giveaway prices suitable for everyone.

Asgar told Pepperpot Magazine that, even before her husband retired as a welder from the sugar estate, she had started selling at the roadside in front of her house to earn, since every dollar counts in an extended family setting.

The 53-year-old became a roadside fruit vendor more than 10 years ago to earn and gain financial independence, even though it is not a “big” money earner.

“I am the kind of person who doesn’t sit by idly; I am always doing something — whether selling, making mango achar and lime pepper sauce from scratch, chores, or cooking. I utilise my time wisely,” she said.

The mother of three stated that being independent as a woman is empowering, and she would urge all stay-at-home mums to do something worthwhile — even if it is small, it is still something.

Asgar explained that her neighbour, a widower, Murlene Persaud, who is also a stay-at-home mother and resides with her senior-citizen mother, makes the mango achar for sale, while she makes the lime pepper sauce the old-fashioned way — that is, homemade, from scratch.

As a countryside resident, where jobs aren’t always available, Asgar has found resourceful ways to earn from home without complaining or finding excuses, and she is very proud of herself as a homemaker.

Asgar related that now pepper costs $1,000 per pound, so it is pricey to invest in lime pepper sauce-making, especially since limes are also costly — but she does it anyway.

It is a very well-made lime-flavoured pepper sauce sold at a reasonable price.

Recently, she acquired 25 baby Black Giant chickens to rear to complement her income and is seeking support for additional small business ventures from her home.