In her Mid-Term Budget Review speech, Finance Minister Dr Retselisitsoe Matlanyane expressed cautious optimism for Lesotho’s agricultural sector, highlighting a significant recovery from a recent downturn while simultaneously addressing major funding shortfalls that threaten long-term progress. The Minister outlined a multi-faceted government strategy centred on climate resilience, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability as cornerstones of…

… Estimated 334,000 people to face more crisis by March 2026 …2024/2025 Maize yield dropped by nearly 20 percent More than a quarter of a million Basotho are currently facing hunger, with the situation expected to worsen as the lean season approaches. According to the Lesotho Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Acute Food Insecurity Analysis, released…

Nairobi, Kenya – “Agriculture is the lifeblood of Africa, sustaining communities, driving economies and shaping the future of millions, yet, its stories often remain untold, hidden behind statistics and policy debates.” The 2025 IFAJ (International Federation of Agricultural Journalists) World Congress of Agricultural Journalists, hosted by Kenya’s Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA)…

When Mafeteng Hospital ran out of water between November 2024 and March 2025, surgeries were postponed, wards went unwashed, and patients with open wounds left at risk of infection. Nurses whispered their frustration as families were told to fetch buckets of water from tanker trucks, and doctors lamented that they could not wash their hands…

…Lesotho’s Wake-Up Call and The Lessons of Mafeteng’s Water Crisis Between November 2024 and March 2025, Mafeteng district in Lesotho lived through one of its harshest crises in memory, a reality that Africa is no longer waiting for climate change, it is living it.   Prolonged drought and blistering heat left dams in Mafeteng nearly…

Africa must not resign itself to being a victim of climate change but instead turn its natural resources into a powerful driver of sustainable development through a bioeconomy. This was the message delivered by Professor Kassahun Tesfaye, Director-General of the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, during the launch of The State of Africa’s Environment 2025…

According to the latest Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP Early Warnings on Acute Food Insecurity report released last week, Lesotho has been officially removed from the list of countries experiencing acute food insecurity. Lesotho now joins Angola, Kenya, Namibia, and Uganda, which have also shown signs of improvement after previously being identified in warnings. In a joint…

In an effort to empower a new generation of farmers, the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II) has launched a youth mentorship initiative that equips young Basotho with the skills, knowledge, and financial support necessary to pursue agriculture as a business. According to Matching Grants Officer Relebohile Khathibe, the project’s design is rooted in…