Globally, the majority of the world’s poor share a common profession – farming. Of the approximately 1.2 billion people living on less than $1.25 per day, 75 per cent of them work in agriculture on small plots of land. Strong, direct relationships exist between agricultural productivity, hunger, poverty and sustainability – increasing productivity allows farmers to grow more food, leading to better diets and higher incomes.

One way we ‘Mine for Progress’ is by implementing social development programs supporting agriculture. While mining stimulates economic growth in the development and operational phases, development opportunities need to remain sustainable beyond mine closure. Successful agricultural programs can support better and more plentiful food for local people while the mine is operating, and after it closes.

Over the next 50 years food and feed crop demand is expected to double as the global population approaches nine billion, primarily in developing countries. To help address this, our social development programs seek to build sustainable community-run farming management systems and to improve agricultural practices. Our approach is closely aligned with key elements of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is a global 15-year agenda for development, as well as the related commitments of national and provincial governments.

Through our programs we aim to deliver against the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms, everywhere.
• Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Key programs

Ubuntu Farm

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) MMG purchased the 1700 hectare Ubuntu Farm near the Kinsevere mine in December 2015. Ubuntu is working closely with the University of Lubumbashi to develop high-yield maize with improved nutritional value and is developing into a centre of agricultural excellence. Ubuntu’s social objectives are to improve domestic agricultural skills, offer non-mining job opportunities to local people, and to act as a secondary economic hub. We have also established a Farmers’ Assistance Program and a Farmers’ Market Gardens Program.

Yavi Yavi Farm

In Peru the community of Nueva Fuerabamba owns the Yavi Yavi farm near the Las Bambas mine. The mine administers the farm, which was established as part of the economic livelihood restoration program committed to under the community of Fuerabamba resettlement program. Yavi Yavi produces cattle, sheep, trout, and cuy – which is a small guinea pig – and has an onsite dairy which produces fresh cheese and milk.

The Mandarin Project

In Lao PDR we are helping local subsistence farmers transition to commercial agriculture to help them increase their incomes. The Mandarin Project is a partnership between MMG-LXML Sepon and Ironbark Citrus of Australia. Ironbark Citrus is developing management structures that will provide training, tools, seeds and distribution channels for local citrus farmers.

Pictured: Building high value agricultural businesses to provide hundreds of families with liveable incomes now, and after mine closure.