Mining & Trade News

Farmers participating in a conservation farming programme in Kasiya have achieved maize yields of 6 tonnes per hectare – 4.5 times the local conventional average of 1.35 tonnes per hectare - as Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture officially launched the programme’s second harvest season.

The initiative, supported by Sovereign Services as part of its proposed Kasiya rutile project, is demonstrating how responsible mining and productive agriculture can coexist. Land rehabilitated following trial mining activities has already produced maize yields of 5.2 tonnes per hectare within six months of restoration.

The programme has delivered steadily improving results over three seasons, with yields rising from three times the conventional average in year one, to 4.5 times higher in year three. For participating farmers approximately 60 kilometres west of Lilongwe, this equates to around 15 bags of maize harvested from 1,250 square metres - enough to feed a household for an entire year.

Launching the harvest season at the Kasiya Rehabilitation Site, Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Hon. Roza Fatch Mbilizi said the programme supported the country’s Vision 2063 agenda and the Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and Manufacturing (ATMM) growth strategy.

“Farmers here are harvesting more than five tonnes per hectare using conservation farming methods - relying on manure instead of mineral fertiliser and practising proper planting techniques without ridging - while national average yields remain far lower,” said Minister Mbilizi.

“This is a significant milestone and an example we should replicate across the country. It shows that improved farming practices can transform food security, even under El Nino conditions.”

The minister added that the programme also demonstrated the potential for mining and agriculture to operate side by side.

“Food security remains our first priority, but Malawi must also commercialise agriculture. These yields show that mining and agriculture can coexist, while enabling farmers to move beyond subsistence production into commercially viable crops such as soya, legumes and horticulture.”

Rehabilitation plots that underwent trial mining, backfilling and soil remediation produced an average of 5.2 tonnes of maize per hectare in the 2024/2025 harvest season. Sovereign is working closely with the local farmers cooperative to commence harvesting of the second season of crops in June and July 2026. Similar or better yields are expected which compare favourably against the local average of 1.3 tonnes.

Sovereign Services Country Manager Maxwell Kazako said the conservation farming initiative had become a foundation for long-term community partnership and trust.

“Today is important for Sovereign Services not because of mining, but because it is about people, partnerships and the future of this area,” said Mr Kazako.

“This bumper harvest reflects proper land preparation, effective farming practices and strong collaboration between farmers and our agricultural teams.”

Mr Kazako said the company had already invested in community programmes, including boreholes, scholarships and science fairs, ahead of any mining operations commencing.

“When the mining licence is granted, a Community Development Agreement will formalise our long-term commitment to local communities,” he said.

“Our approach is straightforward: we mine responsibly, rehabilitate the land and support productive farming alongside surrounding communities. Participation has grown from 35 farmers at the rehabilitation site to more than 400 farmers across the Kasiya area, and we aim to expand even further.”

Traditional leaders and local farmers, including Senior Chief Khongoni, T/A Kabudula and T/A Kalolo welcomed the programme’s results and encouraged wider adoption of conservation farming practices.

“We are very happy with these yields. For the last two harvests, the results have been remarkable,” community leaders said jointly.

The Kasiya project incorporates low-risk ore processing methods using highly weathered material that requires no drilling or blasting, alongside hydraulic backfilling techniques designed to return land to productive agricultural use. An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment aligned with IFC Performance Standards is nearing completion, supported by 13 social management plans, detailed cadastral mapping and a 90-member community liaison team.

Together, these measures are intended to establish a framework for long-term coexistence between agriculture, communities and responsible mining development in Kasiya.

About Sovereign Services

Sovereign Services is the Malawi operation of Sovereign Metals Limited, which is focused on developing its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi to become a leading global supplier to the titanium and graphite industries.  

Kasiya is the world’s largest natural rutile deposit – the purest, highest-grade naturally occurring titanium feedstock – and the world’s second-largest flake graphite deposit – a battery mineral essential for the energy transition.-Langmead & Baker

Leave a Comment

Comments