REG - Sovereign Metals Ltd - Conservation Farming Program Increases Yields 4x

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RNS Number : 0878O  Sovereign Metals Limited  24 June 2025

 

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

 

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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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