FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURE
FEBRUARY 1, 2024
Farmers appreciate Kagem’s support to enhance food security in Lufwanyama
LUFWANYAMA, ZAMBIA – Groups of small-scale farmers in Lufwanyama have shown their appreciation of Kagem Mining for the provision of fertiliser to aid production for the 2023/24 farming season. The mine, which supports eight farming cooperatives comprising a total of 194 members, provides inputs, training and a ready market for the local communities’ produce, which is bought for use at Kagem’s canteen.
In appreciation of the support rendered last year, members of the Twasanta Women, Tweende, Blessings/Chantete and Kapila Green Farmers cooperatives got together to send a letter of thanks to Kagem for the timely annual provision of fertiliser for the 2023/2024 planting season.
“As community co-operatives, we thank you for your timely annual support. Your support has helped us to alleviate poverty in our village communities and it has boosted us to increase our food security and livelihood to all chiefdoms. Your support has also contributed in fighting against malnutrition in most of the community households,” the farmers told Kagem.
Food security and nutrition remain priorities for countries worldwide, and the government has called for collaborative efforts within the region to combat food insecurity.
In Lufwanyama, farming cooperatives supported by Kagem have taken up this task to both support their members’ families and to grow the collective farming strength in the district. The benefits of farming are numerous, as it addresses the challenges of low incomes at household level, unemployment, illegal mining, and poverty. Timely delivery of inputs and planting are key factors in ensuring good yields.
“The farmers grow a variety of horticultural crops and maize and in some cases rear village chickens – considered a delicacy to the more urban population. Kagem is just one of the many entities that buys from the cooperatives,” noted Kagem’s Head of Corporate Responsibility, Lomthunzi Mbewe.
The total number of cooperatives supported by Kagem since 2016 has grown from five to seven, with 194 registered members. The farming associations that are currently operating are: Blessings, Kafwaya, Kapila Green Farms, Matafwali, Tweende, Twasanta cooperatives, as well as the newer Lumpuma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (LMPCS).
“The composition of cooperatives varies from community to community, and we see capacity building as one of the key tools in ensuring the sustainability and growth of Lufwanyama’s cooperatives and farming communities.” highlighted Adriaan Prinsloo, Kagem’s General Manager.
Kagem, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, has conducted training in farming methods, livestock management, and other technical skills and competencies. Members of the cooperatives glean vital knowledge from the agriculture extension officers on best practice, which they share with their colleagues. In addition, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has offered veterinary services including vaccinations and routine monitoring.
Kagem also plans to support organic farming as a more sustainable agricultural practice given that some farmers in the cooperatives are already implementing practices of this nature, such as crop rotation and using organic waste fertilisers as an environmentally-friendly alternative.
Kagem sees the farming cooperatives as one key element in creating sustainable and alternative livelihoods for communities in Lufwanyama, with the mine having spent ZMW 5.4 million in supporting the cooperatives to date.
-Ends-
CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com
Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
Albertina Namburete
PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0)783 325 7387
Albertina.namburete@gemfields.com
Kagem responsible sourcing highlights
– Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
– The mine has spent more than USD 3 million on community projects, including:
- Rehabilitation of the 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms from Kandole to Kafwaya village in Lufwanyama district
- Construction of the Nkana Health Centre
- Construction and equipping of a new Chapula Secondary School
- Construction of new buildings at Chapula Primary School
- Building of teachers’ accommodation at Kapila Community School
- Support for the Blessing, Kapila Green Farms,Twende and Twasanta projects
- Improvements to Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces
- Provision of USD 345,000 for scholarship programme at the School of Mines at UNZA and CBU
- Support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) of USD 150,000 over three years
- One-off donation of USD 70,000 to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP)
– Kagem has renewed its partnership with both the Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA),
committing to new scholarship programmes totalling USD 345,000.
– Kagem has renewed its support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) providing USD 250,000 over a five-year partnership.
– Pledge of USD 220,000 to support Lumpuma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society farming initiative.
– Kagem signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Zambia to fund the construction of the Chapula Vocational Training Centre in Lufwanyama which is estimated to cost ZMW 52,750,000 (USD 2.5 million).
– Construction of classroom block & computer lab at Kapila Primary School by Kagem and Gemfields Foundation.
About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.
Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Foundation | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn