Rio Tinto SimFer supports producer groups with equipment, technical assistance and commercial links to help improve productivity, visibility and income opportunities.
Conakry, Republic of Guinea – SimFer, the joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and the Chinalco-led CIOH consortium, has supported the second edition of the Beyla Agricultural Fair, an event designed to promote local agricultural production, connect producers with buyers and partners, and strengthen sustainable economic opportunities for communities in the region.
The fair brought together more than 400 participants from across the region, including producer groups, processors, buyers, umbrella organisations, technical partners and representatives of the agricultural value chain. It provided a practical platform for local producers to showcase their products, build commercial relationships and explore new opportunities.
On the sidelines of the event, SimFer donated a combine harvester to rice farming groups to support the modernisation of agricultural practices and help improve the efficiency of local rice production. This support complements wider agricultural initiatives delivered with specialised technical partners, through which Rio Tinto SimFer has supported 25 market gardening groups and 29 rice-growing groups in the development of 245 hectares.
The Beyla Agricultural Fair reflects priorities identified through community meetings and perception surveys conducted by Rio Tinto SimFer in localities around the project. These engagements highlighted the need to improve productivity and yields, while also addressing one of the main challenges facing producers: access to reliable markets and sustainable commercial outlets.
Participants included the Sisters of Sérédou, the Women Processors of Kissidougou and Kérouané, the Federation of Cereal Producers of Sinko and more than 10 umbrella structures. Their participation demonstrated the strength, diversity and potential of local production, particularly the role played by women and community-based groups in food security, rural livelihoods and local entrepreneurship.
Fanta Keïta, Director of Community Relations at Rio Tinto SimFer, said:
“The Beyla Agricultural Fair is an important opportunity to recognise the women and men who feed our communities and to help create the conditions for their work to generate lasting value. One of the biggest challenges faced by producers is access to markets, buyers and sustainable outlets. We have facilitated commercial links between market gardening and poultry groups with our subcontractor Welhy-CIS, our catering service provider, which now sources from these groups. This is a concrete example of how local value can be created when community investment, technical support and market access come together.”
By bringing producers, processors, buyers and support organisations together, the fair contributes to the professionalisation of local farming, the visibility of regional products and the development of more resilient agricultural value chains. It also supports Rio Tinto SimFer’s broader commitment to work hand-in-hand with communities and partners to promote sustainable local development and create opportunities beyond the immediate footprint of the Simandou project.
