Community gardeners cultivate hope and opportunity in Namibia

As the world observed World Hunger Day, a group of Namibian community gardeners demonstrated that some of the most effective solutions to food insecurity can be found at grassroots level.

Members of the Groot Aub Fresh Producers community garden recently showcased and sold their produce directly to customers during the annual Market Day at Shoprite Lafrenz in Windhoek. The initiative, which coincided with World Hunger Day, provides community gardeners with a platform to market their products while gaining valuable business experience.

From beetroot and carrots to chillies and fresh herbs, the produce on display reflected months of hard work and dedication by gardeners committed to feeding their communities and building sustainable livelihoods.

The Groot Aub Fresh Producers project forms part of a broader programme supporting more than 300 community food gardens across Southern Africa. Through training, access to resources and opportunities such as Shoprite’s Market Day, participants are empowered to move beyond subsistence farming towards becoming viable microenterprises.

For Julia Haipinge, a member of the Groot Aub Fresh Producers group, the initiative has been instrumental in helping local growers expand their customer base and improve their income-generating potential.

“Through this project, we get connected to other communities, which helps us to sell our products quicker and generate income more easily,” she says. “At Market Day, we gain a lot of trust and customers for our products, along with skills and knowledge. This all keeps us going, and we will never give up when it comes to food production.”

Located on the outskirts of Windhoek, the six-year-old community garden grows a variety of crops that are sold within the local community. The project has also created employment opportunities while supporting vulnerable residents through donations of surplus produce to a nearby old age home and community centre.

According to Shoprite Group Chief Sustainability Officer Sanjeev Raghubir, Market Day serves a dual purpose: providing a retail platform for small-scale growers while equipping them with practical business skills.

“This year, Market Day provided almost 60 local gardeners and cooperatives across the region 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,” he says.

Beyond generating sales, participants receive training in customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping – skills that can help them build sustainable enterprises.

Raghubir notes that every community garden represents more than just a source of food. “For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a dual story of individual circumstance and a pathway towards a more grounded and food-secure life rooted in the soil,” he says.

The initiative forms part of Shoprite’s Act For Change programme, which continues to support community food gardens through training, seedlings and infrastructure assistance. This year, the retailer marked the milestone of supporting its 300th community garden across Southern Africa.

As food insecurity remains a challenge for many communities, projects such as Groot Aub Fresh Producers illustrate how local solutions can create a lasting impact.

By combining food production, skills development and market access, community gardens are not only helping to feed families but are also planting the seeds for economic opportunity and resilience.

For the gardeners of Groot Aub, the harvest represents more than fresh vegetables – it is a symbol of hope, selfreliance and community empowerment.