Feed Prices Stabilise After Mid-2025 Dip, but Structural Pressures Persist for Lesotho’s Livestock Farmers
Animal feed prices, which account for the largest share of production costs in Lesotho’s livestock…
Changing weather patterns are no longer a distant warning for cattle farmers in Lesotho, but have become a lived reality, reshaping farming seasons and accelerating disease outbreaks that threaten livestock, livelihoods and the broader agricultural sector. Rising temperatures and increased rainfall are turning what was once a manageable livestock disease into a growing national crisis….
Animal feed prices, which account for the largest share of production costs in Lesotho’s livestock sector, began to stabilise and modestly decline around June 2025, providing short-term relief to poultry, piggery and dairy farmers who had faced prolonged cost pressures. Throughout much of 2024 and early 2025, rising feed prices eroded profit margins, compelling many…
MASERU – Lesotho is set for export growth under the New Chinese Trade Policy, according to the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, Yang Xiaokun. This arrangement, the Ambassador said, opens doors for local farmers to export homegrown goods to the People’s Republic of China, potentially boosting the country’s economy and creating jobs. He explained that the…
MASERU – The rights of women in agriculture took centre stage last week during a meeting convened by the Transformative Resource Centre (TRC) where multi-stakeholder looked in ways to strengthen partnerships for inclusive agricultural development, specifically advancing the rights of women farmers in Lesotho. Held under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive Agricultural Development,” the…
By Tumelo Taole Livestock remains central to the survival and identity of many households in Lesotho, yet in districts such as Mohale’s Hoek and Leribe, farmers are increasingly struggling to feed both their animals and their families as deteriorating grazing lands and climate shocks take a growing toll. Once known for its rich grasslands and…
Lesotho has taken a decisive step toward reforming its fisheries and aquaculture sector with the validation of the Lesotho Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2025–2035), the country’s first integrated governance framework for the industry. This policy aims to reposition fisheries and aquaculture as strategic contributors to food security, nutrition, employment and economic diversification, moving the sector…
The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) concluded its 58th Plenary Assembly in Durban with a strong commitment to accelerated parliamentary action on climate change, focusing on the protection of women and youth who are disproportionately affected by climate impacts across the region. The Assembly, held from 30 November to 5 December 2025,…
PRETORIA- Science journalists from around the world recently gathered in Africa for the 13th World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ), where experts called for accurate, accessible, and responsible reporting of science to empower societies to make informed decisions and foster resilience. The five-day conference, held in Pretoria, was the first global gathering of science journalists…
PRETORIA – Healthy ecosystems are essential for the survival of both humans and animals. Soils, vegetation, and wildlife form an interconnected system that sustains life by providing food, clean water, shelter, and environmental stability. When one element is damaged, the entire system begins to unravel, leading to serious consequences for biodiversity and livelihoods. Fertile soils…
For Lekoko Salemane Hoko, a wool and mohair farmer with a flock of over 900 sheep, farming has always been an act of faith. Last month, that faith was brutally tested on a cold afternoon in Semonkong’s Ha Elia, when a sudden hailstorm killed 197 sheep within minutes as they were being driven home from…
A Berea farmer has been left devastated after an unknown wild predator slaughtered 15 sheep in a single night, sending shockwaves through the Ha Tebeli community and raising concerns about the growing human–wildlife conflict in rural Lesotho. In September, Mokhethi Molefi, a small-scale livestock farmer, woke up to a scene of horror when he went…
Lesotho farmers are set to benefit from renewed hope as Lesotho Flour Mills (LFM) introduces a new grain procurement model that allows both large-scale and smallholder producers to sell maize and wheat in any quantity. This initiative is expected to stimulate local production, ease market access challenges and integrate small-scale farmers into the formal grain…