In an effort to boost the livelihoods of families living near our Sanbrado mine in Burkina Faso, subsidiary SOMISA implemented an improved seeds program, training locals to become commercial producers of seeds commonly grown in the area, using seed varieties with improved characteristics such as higher yields, more weather resistant, and/or ready for harvest more quickly.
To date, 17 farmers and artisanal miners living adjacent to Sanbrado have trained and registered as seed producers, growing maize, sorghum and cowpea seeds sold to SOMISA and distributed to other households near Sanbrado to assist them in improving their agricultural productivity. Work is underway to develop a seed growers cooperative with access to the national market, so that the seed producers can sell their seeds to other buyers.
