We do this by organizing smallholder farmers in mining affected communities into Cooperatives; build their capacities (with sound agronomic knowledge and environmentally-friendly farming methods) to transition from over reliance on mineral resources into more sustainable livelihoods. We engage local duty bearers on social policy, especially on policies to improve the framework conditions of farmers including access to productive assets such as land, basic infrastructure including water and sanitation services. Over 80% of SLCC’s beneficiaries are women and girls-engaged in the production and marketing of various food chains including maze and vegetables.

Given the high illiteracy level among rural communities, trainings for farmers are delivered using the Farmer-Field-School (FFS) methodology. The Farmer-Field-School is otherwise known as the ‘school without a classroom’ because it is conducted openly on the plots or fields that are being cultivated by the farmers. Trainings are conducted practically through demonstrations. Farmers have been used and are more akin to use traditional farming methods (slash-and-burn, flat land cultivation and seed broadcasting) sometimes leading to inputs wastage due to frequent flooding of farm lands during the rainy season. Traditional farming methods are also very prone to pests and environmental hazards all of which lead to low productivity and extensive environmental damage. The FFS method does not openly condemn their methods, instead we encourage them to keenly observe our ‘demonstration plots’ which we lay alongside their fields with improved seed varieties and climate-smart cultivation methods. At the end of the harvest, the farmers themselves report to us the difference they observed between our ‘demonstration plots’ and their own plots. This then provokes deep discussions and ‘critical analysis’ when the farmers ask: what did the SLCC do differently that made the SLCC ‘plots’ more productive with better yields? Using a simple PAT (problem analysis tree), the SLCC help the farmers themselves point out what was wrong with their traditional farming methods. Without further prompting, farmers willingly adopt the new methods. Our FFS method is integrated with lessons on climate change (what changes have we observed in recent years affecting yields and productivity) and what best-agronomic practices can be adopted to lessen the impact of climate change-such as adaptive cropping and bond irrigation methods. All lessons are provided in local languages with expressive images or photos to reinforce understanding.

The organization of smallholder farm-families into viable cooperatives is the bedrock of SLCC’s work approach with rural communities. The SLCC is very experienced in implementing livelihood projects in ASM communities and that experience suggest that food security and positive nutritional outcomes cannot be achieved in fragile and impoverished ASM communities in Kono without building the required local capacity and institutional structures. In addition to aiding the ability of smallholder farmers to learn new and improved livelihood skills, SLCC’s activities also focuses on ‘mind-set change’, without which, beneficiaries will easily revert back to the poverty trap and old habits. That is why project implementation activities are preceded by extensive stakeholder consultations and stakeholder analysis to understand the various interest dimensions of the communities. This includes detailed examination of beneficiary capacity needs to ensure that the blend of support and capacity trainings provided are indeed what is needed to help beneficiaries succeed in the pursuit of and diversification of livelihoods in ASM communities. The process start with registration of interested smallholder farmers into cooperatives and then, formalize them through the opening of formal bank accounts, registered at district and national levels with relevant service providers (councils, ministry of agriculture, MFI’s etc.). This process is very important in promoting positive community dynamics to ensure success, expansion of livelihoods, accountability and sustainability. The Spanish Catholic agency, Manos Unidas, is our key and only partner supporting our work on the promotion of right to food & nutrition- providing the much needed seeds, tools, community storage, drying-floors and support to improve feeder roads. Manos Unidas also provide support to promote interactive adult education including programs on gender-equity, gender-based violence prevention and women’s empowerment.