In this month of August 2024, the Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) concession is the scene of an agricultural effervescence that announces the start of the corn harvest. It is a ceaseless ballet of trucks that deploy between the TFM warehouses and the various agricultural pools of the concession.
From the first days of the month, a close collaboration is established between TFM and the two local development committees (CLD) of the chiefdom of Bayeke and the commune of Fungurume to complete the loop of the 2023-2024 agricultural campaign with the recovery of the corn credit, a crucial step in this process.
At the beginning of this campaign, more than 1600 planters were supported, receiving quality agricultural inputs, in-depth technical monitoring and constant supervision provided by TFM agricultural engineers. The objective was clear: to combat the corn shortage and guarantee an optimal yield.
With the support of the planters throughout the growing cycle, the harvest promises to be fruitful. The harvested corn now returns to TFM to honor the established program. The figures speak for themselves: 1,677 planters supported, 615 tons of corn expected as reimbursement, an increase in production of almost 30% compared to the previous year.
TFM’s farmer support program, set up since 2008, is firmly anchored in the specifications of the mining company, thus nourishing a fruitful collaboration with local communities. The results are there, with a constantly increasing production and a significant improvement in the agricultural yield of the participants.
In addition to supporting corn production, TFM also invests in the empowerment of farmers by training them in other agricultural activities, such as poultry farming. This diversification of skills is part of a logic of sustainable development and reinforced food security for the Fungurume region.
In parallel, the project to build four warehouses in the established agricultural pools promises to be a new lever of growth for planters, offering them the opportunity to store their crops and market them at the right time to maximize their income.
Ultimately, this approach of support and assistance from TFM to local agricultural communities demonstrates that the company is not only an economic player in the region, but also a partner committed to the social and economic development of its stakeholders. This year’s corn harvest would not only be an abundant harvest, but the symbol of a fruitful collaboration and a long-term vision for more sustainable and prosperous agriculture in the Tenke Fungurume Mining concession.