Beetroot, carrots, chillies, herbs and other vegetables grown in Botswana community gardens were showcased and sold at Shoprite Gaborone and Checkers Airport Junction Centre in the country’s capital city on Market Day on Thursday 28 May. This year, the project, which annually provides local community gardeners with a valuable retail platform, coincided with World Hunger Day – a global awareness day focused on food insecurity and sustainable solutions. 

The two growers from Botswana that took part this year – Adams Eden and Sharodan Farms – are among over 300 community gardens supported by the Shoprite Group across Southern Africa to strengthen food security in the region.

“This year Market Day provided almost 60 gardeners and co-operatives across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with the opportunity to sell their fresh produce directly to the public, gain retail experience and strengthen the roots of small businesses that feed their communities,” says Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Group. “Customers stocked up on local peppers, spinach, parsley and many other vegetables and fruits, met the small-scale farmers and learned about their sustainable growing methods and in some instances, even purchased seedlings for their own home gardens.”

Botswana gardeners gain skills and market access

Adams Eden began in 2021 with the goal of making Botswana green. In response to local demand for fresh vegetables, the project expanded from tree cultivation to crop production. Trees and seedlings are sold at discounted prices to support food security and foster an environmentally conscious, sustainable community.

“Through our participation in Market Day, we gained confidence in sharing our story and explaining our growing techniques, while understanding what customers value most,” says Lerato Bwire.

There is also significance in the skills that the retailer endeavours to pass on to participants in Market Day, which include customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping amongst others.

“For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a story both of individual circumstance and a pathway towards a more grounded and food secure life rooted in the soil,” adds Raghubir. “The power of this day is in taking this a step further by facilitating market entry with skills training.”

Beyond Market Day, the Shoprite Group continues to support community food gardens through its Act For Change programme, which to date has assisted hundreds of gardens with training, seedlings and infrastructure. This year, the retailer marks the milestone of its 300^th community garden, a project outside Bredasdorp, in South Africa.

“It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within our communities grow and flourish,” says Raghubir. “We are proud to champion the heroes of Southern African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.”