In villages and farming communities throughout South Africa, small-scale farmers are showing that food security can be built from the ground up. Central to this transformation is SPAR’s Rural Hub Programme, a model that connects emerging farmers directly to markets, helps them produce commercial-quality crops and creates jobs in communities where opportunities are limited.
By Lebogang Mashala, Editor at African Farming
“Our Rural Hub is not just about food,” said Dr Thuli Tabudi, the Socio-Development and Transformation Executive at The SPAR Group. “It’s about dignity, opportunity and creating a more sustainable future for everyone.”
South Africa faces a challenging reality. Almost 20% of households lack adequate access to food, and an estimated 12.6 million tonnes of food are wasted annually. The Rural Hub Programme is SPAR’s solution to this paradox, a practical approach to reshaping food production and distribution to ensure that nutritious food is grown, marketed and consumed more efficiently.
Dr Tabudi emphasised that retailers play a vital role in the food supply chain. Through their operations, they must actively contribute to reshaping food security and ensuring consistent access to nutritious food.
Job Creation And Income Streams
By financing infrastructure, providing technical support and ensuring reliable markets, the programme empowers farmers to expand their operations. Crops are grown in protective net houses to ensure consistent quality, and any surplus produce is directed to urban fresh produce markets, where it can fetch better prices.
“SPAR has financed all operational costs and capital assets necessary to transform the farms involved in the programme,” explained Dr Tabudi. “The result is job creation and the generation of new local income streams, which help stimulate the broader regional economy,” she added.
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Increased Production And A Boost In Economic Activity
According to Dr Tabudi, the programme aims to build an inclusive and sustainable food system. It offers technical support to small-scale farmers to increase both crop volumes and quality, allowing surplus produce to be sold in urban fresh produce markets. “This approach ensures that farmers are not constrained by oversaturated local markets and can secure fair and realistic prices for their harvests. Consequently, this creates opportunities for increased production and revitalised economic activity in agriculturally dominant regions,” she explained.
“SPAR has become the primary buyer of produce from the Rural Hubs. This marks a significant milestone for both our organisation and the hardworking farmers we support. As part of this partnership, our distribution centres have committed to purchasing 80% of their daily fresh produce demand from Rural Hub farmers.
“This collaboration not only strengthens our supply chain but also ensures that we continue to provide fresh, high-quality produce to our customers. These products are sold under SPAR’s in-house Freshline and Country Value labels, with additional customers including aggregators, packers, processors and fresh produce markets.”
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In 2024, the Rural Hub model created more than 160 jobs at the farm level, with an additional 47 individuals working in the packhouse and providing technical services to farmers. The programme was further strengthened when the Kagiso Trust, through its Tyala Impact Fund, awarded R3 million to support the development of 10 selected farmers within the Rural Hub.
One inspiring success story is that of Leydah Sekgobela, a small-scale farmer from Limpopo. With SPAR’s support, she has transformed her operation into a successful commercial farm, employing 29 people – 22 of whom are women – from her community.
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Small Actions That Can Combat Food Waste
Addressing the role individuals can play in reducing hunger and food waste, Dr Tabudi highlighted the power of small daily actions. “Consumers can make a difference by buying local. Choosing South African-grown produce supports local farmers and producers, strengthens the agricultural economy and reduces food miles, ensuring that food travels a shorter distance from farm to table. This not only lowers environmental impact but also boosts job creation in the sector.”
Other key actions include shopping smartly, storing food properly to reduce spoilage and composting organic waste such as vegetable peels and coffee grounds. These practices enrich the soil and decrease landfill waste.
“SPAR is working to make small farms more sustainable by helping farmers increase their output and ensuring their products reach larger markets. These efforts are supported by our network of independent store owners, who play a crucial role in donating surplus stock to deserving local causes,” says Dr Tabudi.
“Every plate counts in the fight against food waste. By planning meals, storing leftovers wisely and sharing excess food with those in need, each of us can make a meaningful difference. Together, we can build a more sustainable future, one meal at a time.”
