Makor Resources launches programme to provide food security and support subsistence farmers across Zambia

This programme was hosted by the Bwana Mkubwa families who were resettled last year by previous mine owners First Quantum Metals and was also attended by Ward Councillor Lombe Kaweme, Senior Ndola Agricultural Officer, Zeniah Nambeye Chitema, civic leaders and community members.

“Our aim is to provide lifesaving support to subsistence farmers, particularly those who have recently resettled from their ancestral homes at the outset of the drought, along with those most vulnerable farmers,” says Brooke Bibeault, “These farmers have faced crop failures, reduced harvests, critical food shortages and malnutrition, forcing them to adopt desperate measures like selling off essential assets or skipping meals.”

The beneficiary farmers of this collaborative effort between Makor Resources, Jubilee Metals Zambia and the local government included elders, the physically disabled and widowed women who rely on agricultural production.

Many of the rural farms surrounding mine operations are disadvantaged, given the remoteness from the capital, rugged terrain, environmental risk, climate vulnerability, and reliance on subsistence farming. Moreover, households have minimal access to agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers.

This lack of access is compounded by unfavourable environmental conditions and limited access to profitable markets. These factors have affected agricultural productivity, production, and income, subsequently contributing to high levels of chronic malnutrition and food insecurity.

Ndola District Commissioner, Joseph Phiri, commented: “It is crucial that we encourage other companies to follow the examples set by Makor Resources and Jubilee Metals. Their contributions do not go unnoticed and are a testament to the spirit of solidarity and community resilience that we cherish. Their commitment to supporting our communities is commendable and should inspire others in the mining sectors to engage in similar initiatives.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/special-reports/24102024/makor-resources-launches-programme-to-provide-food-security-and-support-subsistence-farmers-across-zambia/