By Libuseng Molato
The government of Lesotho has designated August as the Month for Food and Agriculture, a nationwide initiative aimed at reinforcing the importance of farming among Basotho.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition has declared “PSHATLA MAFISOANA A TLALA RE KENE KHORENG” as the motto for this month.
The initiative was launched on the first of August with a vibrant fun walk from the Moshoeshoe statue to Lesotho Agricultural College grounds.
Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition, Thabo Mofosi, emphasised the government’s commitment to re-establishing Lesotho’s self-sufficiency in food production.
“As the government commanded the ministry to reinforce the importance of farming among Basotho, we decided to go all over the country and encourage every Mosotho to go out and farm their fields. It is crucial that each family plants all their home plots,” said Mofosi.
Reflecting on Lesotho’s agricultural history, Mofosi highlighted that the country once fed itself and even exported surplus produce.
“We looked back and assessed ourselves and realised the country has been able to feed itself and even export in years back. We want to go back to our roots and keep the same status, hence we start with this month which is when Basotho traditionally begin farming,” he added.
As Lesotho celebrates 200 years as a nation, the Minister stressed the responsibility of every Mosotho to work towards achieving a sustainable food system for present and future generations.
This mission is particularly urgent given the recent declaration of a state of food disaster by Prime Minister Samuel Matekane due to severe drought and food insecurity.
In alignment with these efforts, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has appointed His Majesty King Letsie III as the Special Ambassador for Nutrition. To support this initiative, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, World Food Programme (WFP) Assistant Executive Director Valerie Guarnieri, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Associate Vice-President for Programme Management Donal Brown will be special guests of the King.
They will engage with government officials and relevant ministries during their visit to Lesotho from August 4-6, 2024.
Minister Mofosi outlined the key events planned for the month:
- Sunday, August 4: His Majesty King Letsie III and his guests will visit Khothola Farm to observe local farming practices.
- Monday, August 5: Farmers will showcase and sell their produce at Masianokeng to assess the country’s production capabilities.
- Tuesday, August 6: A high-level dialogue on food systems will take place at Avani Lesotho, involving the King’s guests and government officials.
The Minister also announced ongoing celebrations in all the ten districts throughout the month, highlighting Lesotho’s rich agricultural heritage.
Additionally, August has been designated as the National Breastfeeding Month, with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition collaborating on celebrations at Thaba-Bosiu.
This comprehensive initiative underscores Lesotho’s dedication to addressing food insecurity and achieving agricultural self-sufficiency, celebrating both heritage and future potential in the agricultural sector.
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