DRC’s TFM Welcomes Inputs for 2023-2024 Farming Season

Faithful to its tradition, Tenke Fungurume Mining carries out, as the rains approach, a dual activity relating to agriculture for the benefit of members of the local community. 

While the collection of corn harvests is underway, TFM receives large batches of NPK 17-17-17 agricultural inputs for the new agricultural season in its concession. 

The inputs received for the 2023-2024 agricultural campaign will cover an area of ​​3,605 hectares, including 3,117 ha dedicated to corn cultivation and 488 ha to bean cultivation.

These inputs will be distributed to growers grouped into agricultural cooperatives active in the two territorial entities hosting the TFM concession, according to the terms approved by the two local development committees (CLD). 

In this context, the Bayeke chiefdom develops its agricultural activities over an area of ​​1,000 ha and the commune of Fungurume over 500 ha.

There are therefore more than 2,000 ha remaining. These will be converted into compensation for Project Affected People (PAP) through the Livelihood Restoration Program (RMS) . Of this total, 1,617 ha will be dedicated to corn and 488 ha to beans. An abundant harvest is therefore expected.

To do this, TFM made its storage facilities for agricultural products available to allow planter associations to collect their corn harvests. 

Here, in order to perpetuate the activity, each planter having received agricultural inputs for the agricultural campaign remits a portion of corn based on the quantity of inputs received and according to the terms set by the two CLDs.

To do better, TFM has already acquired eight new tractors which will be handed over to the various agricultural pools, the chiefdom and the municipality. 

These tractors will plow the fields of members of planters’ associations and those of community members who have not yet joined these associations.

“To ensure the sustainability and ownership of the project by the local community, these associations benefit from strategic and technical support for a period of 5 years. 

When weaning, associations and cooperatives must already be able to finance themselves,” explained Gabriel Tambwe, coordinator of the economic development service at TFM.

Since the advent of the specifications, it is the CLDs which directly manage the repayment of the corn credit, while TFM still retains its role as technical supervisor. Corn Credit is an agricultural program that TFM has implemented since 2008 to support local agriculture.

It should be remembered that the agricultural cooperatives of the TFM concession are grouped into four pools, belonging respectively to the Bayeke chiefdom and the Fungurume commune. 

These platers and breeders have benefited from the supervision and technical support of TFM since 2008.