According to Kevin O’Brien, group sustainability executive at Spar, the total donation of R3m underscores the programme’s success in transforming rural farming communities with Spar’s support. “We are immensely grateful to Kagiso Trust and the Tyala Impact Fund for this generous award.
“This recognition is a testament to our farmers’ hard work and dedication and aligns with Spar’s vision to enhance job creation, income generation, infrastructure development, skills transfer, and empowerment. “The investment will enable our farmers to elevate their operations and contribute to food security and economic growth in their communities.”
Spar initiated its rural hub programme in Ofcolaco outside Tzaneen in 2016 to support small-scale farmers by providing guaranteed markets for their produce and by providing relevant technical and food safety training as well as facilitating access to funding he programme currently supports farmers in Limpopo, creating 103 jobs and 62 secondary jobs at packhouses as well as technical services.
“Our rural hub model focuses on rural community development by addressing systemic issues such as food security. “By providing net houses and funding operational costs and capital assets, we have enabled farmers to produce commercial-quality and quantity of crops,” says O’Brien.
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While Spar remains the rural hub farmers’ primary customer, some of their produce is also sold to aggregators who then on-sell to other food retailers. Many farmers also continue to grow private crops for their communities. Mankone Ntsaba, chairperson of Kagiso Trust, says the Spar Mopani rural hub initiative shows how working together can bring real change.
Kagiso Trust and Spar are creating a more inclusive and thriving agricultural sector by helping small-scale farmers become part of the main food supply and giving them the skills they need. This partnership is a strong example of how we can build a better future for everyone in South Africa.” Spar has consistently shown strong dedication to supporting small farmers, and we expect that this investment will have a transformative impact on farmers’ livelihoods, enabling them to cultivate larger areas, improve crop yields, and increase their income, which will all foster sustainable development.”
Kagiso Trust’s Tyala Fund has consistently provided essential input and infrastructure finance to the rural hub farmers, addressing major challenges faced by South Africa’s new-era farmers. This ongoing support, alongside Spar’s contributions, has elevated the quality of products, reflecting a commitment to excellence and sustainable farming practices. Plans are underway to increase Spar’s support to 80% of Spar’s monthly demand by 2025.
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Projects like the rural hub are crucial for improving food security and the well-being of rural communities. Spar recently honoured several young people making strides in the farming sector. Nomsa Ngwenya was awarded Female Farmer of the Year. Ngwenya is the founder and owner of NTL Baraka Eco-Farming and joined the Spar Mopani hub programme in 2022 when she supplied Spar with 52 tons of cocktail tomatoes. Her farm provides young graduates with practical learning opportunities.
