
NEWS RELEASE I 24 JUNE 2025
SOVEREIGN'S EXPANDED CONSERVATION FARMING PROGRAM INCREASES CROP YIELDS FOUR FOLD
· Malawian farmers who participated in Sovereign's 2025 Conservation Farming Program increased crop yields by four-times (4x), with the top farmer achieving a 10x yield increase compared to traditional farming techniques
· Conservation Farming Programs were launched by Sovereign in 2024 in parallel with the development of the Kasiya Project, aiming to uplift local communities by supporting the growth of successful smallholder farmers
· The 2025 Program was enthusiastically adopted by an additional 260 local farmers joining the 90 farmers trained in the previous planting season
· This scale of farmer participation and increased yields demonstrates the Program's effectiveness in sustainably increasing agricultural production during Sovereign's ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study
· Sovereign has adopted Conservation Farming as one of the cornerstones of its livelihood improvement initiatives for the Kasiya Project
Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML; OTCQX:SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 Conservation Farming Program (Program)harvest season at the Kasiya Rutile Graphite Project (Kasiya or the Project) in Malawi.
As part of Sovereign's commitment to improving livelihoods and local communities near the Kasiya Project, the Company launched a Program in 2024 to support the development of successful smallholder farmers. Local farmers received training to increase maize crop yield, protect soil from erosion and degradation and ultimately improve long-term food security.
During the 2024 harvest season, the Program delivered strong results, with visibly improved crop growth with the 90 participating farmers reporting harvest yields three-times (3x) higher than previous years despite an El Niño-driven drought.
In 2025, 350 farmers, of which 50% are female, have participated in the Program with yield surveys of all farmers who have harvested their crops demonstrating four times (4x) higher than typical yields from conventional farming.
The top farmer this season, harvested 12.8 tonnes/ha i.e. a ten-times (10x) increase in crops, compared to last season's top farmer who achieved 6 tonnes/ha and a five-times (5x) higher crop yield. Top-performing farmers have not only managed to meet their household food requirements, but have also sold surplus crop with proceeds being used to upgrade their houses and invest in trading businesses.
Managing Director and CEO Frank Eagar commented: "The success of our Conservation Farming Program near Kasiya demonstrates a scalable solution to food insecurity and otherwise perpetiual land degradation in Malawi. By restoring soil health and significantly improving yields, the program promotes lasting self-reliance for local communities. It also reflects our broader commitment to sustainable development and responsible investment in Malawi's future-where environmental stewardship, social impact, and economic progress go hand in hand."
Conservation farming involves sustainable permaculture techniques such as crop rotation, minimal tillage, organic mulching, and composting, all aimed at regenerating soil health and boosting productivity over time. It teaches, promotes and monitors responsible land stewardship based on the principles of on-time, to standard, no wastage, with joy.
Figure 1: Conservation farming vs. conventional farming methods
The program's long-term goal is to enable smallholder farmers to consistently produce surplus crops, creating a pathway to sustainable household income even under challenging climatic conditions. The expanded scale allows the Company to further demonstrate the Program's positive impacts as part of the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kasiya Project.
Figure 2: Sovereign's Program Results with four fold yield
Figure 3: Sovereign's Managing Director & CEO, Mr Frank Eagar, inspecting the yield with the local farmers
Enquiries |
Frank Eagar, Managing Director & CEO South Africa / Malawi +27 21 140 3190 Sapan Ghai, CCO London +44 207 478 3900 |
Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker |
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SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP | +44 20 3470 0470 |
Ewan Leggat Charlie Bouverat |
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Joint Broker |
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Stifel | +44 20 7710 7600 |
Varun Talwar |
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Ashton Clanfield |
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Buchanan | + 44 20 7466 5000 |
Forward Looking Statement
This release may include forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on Sovereign's expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Sovereign, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Sovereign makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that release.
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