First Quantum Minerals (FQM), one of Zambia’s largest copper producers, is channelling a substantial investment into the agricultural future of the communities surrounding its operations, launching a K33,384,129 ($1.2 million) farmer support program for the 2025/26 season.
The initiative, part of the company’s long-standing Agriculture Livelihood Support Programme, is set to assist 7,208 smallholder farmers across the districts of Mushindamo, Solwezi, Kalumbila, and Mwinilunga. It covers approximately 3,412 hectares under cultivation, aiming to shift local farmers from subsistence farming toward sustainable commercial enterprise.
Speaking at the launch in Kalumbila, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Reuben Mtolo Phiri, underscored the importance of the partnership between the government and the private sector.
“Government continues to partner with First Quantum and other like-minded companies to drive agricultural growth,” Minister Phiri stated. He noted that the support would significantly “lift productivity and resilience” among targeted households, which in turn advances “national food and nutrition security and inclusive growth.”
The minister pointed to tangible results already emerging from the collaboration. A beans out-grower scheme with Good Nature Agro, for instance, has surged from 40 participating farmers in 2022 to 615 in 2024, producing over 100 metric tonnes of certified beans and injecting more than K2.5 million into the local economy. The target for the upcoming season is to involve over 1,000 farmers.
Dr Godwin Beene, FQM Country Manager, affirmed the company’s commitment, emphasising a vision that extends far beyond the lifespan of its mining operations.
“Through the Trident Foundation in Kalumbila and the Kansanshi Foundation in Solwezi, we’re helping smallholders move beyond subsistence into commercial agriculture so communities thrive well beyond the life of our mines,” Dr. Beene said. He confirmed that the new investment would fund subsidized inputs, training, and technical assistance to strengthen both household food security and local enterprise.
The company’s strategy is aligned with key national development frameworks, including the Eighth National Development Plan (2022–2026) and the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (2022).
Frederic Wouters, Assistant General Manager for FQM Trident, highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the two sectors driving Zambia’s economy. “Mining and agriculture are complementary engines of Zambia’s development,” Mr Wouters noted. “We cannot sustainably mine copper without cultivating community prosperity. Supporting over 7,000 farmers this season is an investment in resilience, skills, and opportunity.”
The program relies on collaboration with government, traditional leadership, and various input manufacturers and distributors to ensure the aid is delivered efficiently and transparently.
