"I’m so happy, this year’s harvest far exceeds last year’s!" said Nathalie, a resident of Inga Village in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as she held freshly picked corn with a beaming smile during the corn harvest season.

Corn is one of the staple foods for the local population, with many villagers relying on it for their livelihood. However, due to a lack of agricultural knowledge, outdated farming methods, and the inability of poor families to afford fertilizers and agricultural equipment, crop yields have been low, making it difficult to meet their daily needs. Nathalie explained that her family, with eight children, used to rely on cassava, which has low yields and rots easily, often leaving them hungry.

"The support from La Sino-Congolaise Des Mines S.A. has changed everything, giving us hope for a better life," Nathalie added. "They provided us with free corn seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery. This is our second year of abundant harvests, and now we have surplus food to sell at the market, giving us the money to send our children to school!"

 La Sino-Congolaise Des Mines S.A., which Nathalie refers to, is a shining example of China-DR Congo cooperation. The company is committed to improving the lives of local residents as part of its corporate social responsibility. Since 2022,  La Sino-Congolaise Des Mines S.A. has included supporting corn farming in its social responsibility initiatives, with a three-year plan to help five local villages plant over 7,500 acres of corn. So far, they have donated 12,500 kilograms of high-quality corn seeds, 200,000 kilograms of fertilizers such as urea, and various agricultural machines including tractors, seeders, and pesticide sprayers.

In addition to providing machinery and farming materials, La Sino-Congolaise Des Mines S.A. has also been actively promoting advanced farming techniques. They have hired five agricultural experts to regularly teach villagers about plowing, harrowing, seeding, fertilizing, and the use of agricultural equipment. These experts often visit the fields to provide hands-on training.

"Our corn yield this year far exceeded expectations, doubling last year’s harvest, thanks to the guidance and training from the Chinese experts. I applied all the knowledge I learned, and the land rewarded me," said Kazadi, a resident of Inga Village. His family’s corn harvest has been bountiful, and he built a simple granary using plastic sheeting in front of his home. Kazadi now considers himself one of the village’s leading corn farmers. His increased income has not only fed his family but also allowed him to build a garden in the village and a house in the city.

"Look at my ‘iron bull’—it plowed 20 acres of land in less than an hour!" boasted Kaimbo Salomo, a tractor driver from Inga Village, who takes pride in plowing the village’s fields. After one corn harvest, the land needs to be prepared for the next crop, making this the busiest time of the year for him. In the past, it took his entire family over a month to plow one hectare of land, but now, with the help of the tractor, it can be done in just two or three hours.

Looking to the future, Inga Village leader and chairman of the Green Road Community Development Committee, Mubaka Musangu George, expressed confidence. He hopes that with the continued help of Huayou Cobalt, the village will one day cultivate 500 or even 1,000 hectares of corn, ensuring everyone is well-fed and free from hunger.