News
Lesotho to receive 100,000 FMD vaccine doses from Botswana
Botswana’s President, Advocate Duma Boko, pledged this week to donate 100,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to Lesotho. He announced this commitment at the first Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting in Gaborone. Lesotho first reported an FMD outbreak in February in Botha-Bothe, and there are growing concerns that the disease may have spread to other…
Quality Clips Drive Wool Price Surge As China Reopens Market Channels
The South African wool market recorded stronger prices during the 29th auction of the 2025/26 season held on 22 April 2026, supported by increased demand for high-quality clips and improved buying activity following developments in key export markets. According to the BKB isiXhosa and Lesotho Wool Market Report for CAT29, the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)…
The Missing Link Between Agricultural Policy and Food Security
Agriculture is often called Lesotho’s economic backbone and key to food security, with successive governments having declared it a priority, recognising its potential to create jobs, reduce poverty, empower rural communities, and lower food import dependence. Yet despite years of policy promises, strategic plans, donor-funded programmes, and public commitments, food security remains one of Lesotho’s…
India Urges Lesotho to Reposition Agriculture for Investment and Climate Resilience
India has urged the country to reposition its agricultural sector to attract investment, strengthen climate resilience and unlock value-chain development opportunities. The call came ahead of the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), which brought together African leaders, ministers, investors and policymakers in New Delhi from May 28 to 31. Speaking ahead of the summit, the Indian…
Crop Insurance Emerging as Risk Tool for Smallholder Farmers in Lesotho
Rising climate-related crop losses are pushing smallholder farmers in Lesotho to seek crop insurance to manage growing agricultural risks. Government and development partner initiatives, through the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II), are supporting efforts to improve resilience in the agricultural sector, and crop insurance is among the mechanisms under discussion to help farmers…
Lesotho Pushes Potato Sector Expansion Amid Rising Demand and Import Dependence
Lesotho marked International Potato Day on 29 May 2026, calling for expanded local production and reduced reliance on imports as demand for potatoes continues to exceed domestic supply. The commemoration, held at Avani Lesotho, brought together farmers, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders under the theme “Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish.” Discussions focused on production constraints, value…
LHDA Turns Displacement into Opportunity with Mokhotlong Innovation Hub Push
By Seabata Mahao The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is intensifying efforts to turn infrastructure-driven disruption into long-term economic opportunity, rolling out a series of livelihood programmes in Mokhotlong anchored by the Ha-Ramonakalali Innovation Hub under the Phase II Polihali Dam project. At the centre of this approach is a deliberate shift: moving affected communities…
Drought Crisis Deepens as Lesotho Turns to Climate-Smart Farming
A new report from the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) paints a stark picture of the impact of an El Niño-induced drought that has gripped the country since 2024, so severe that the government declared a National State of Food Insecurity Disaster from July 2024 through March 2025. For a country heavily dependent on rain-fed…
El Niño Watch Raised as Lesotho Prepares for Possible Dry Season
Lesotho’s next farming season may arrive under drier and hotter conditions, as weather experts warn of a possible El Niño developing later this year. The Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) has issued an official El Niño Watch for the 2026–2027 summer rainfall season, urging farmers and households to begin preparing early, even as current conditions remain…
From Social Work to Sustainability: Rerereile Kamohi’s Green Revolution for Lesotho
By Ntsoaki Motaung and Refiloe Molise Lesotho is a country where many young people are searching for opportunities, while some are beginning to create them, starting from the ground up. In Pitsing, Leribe, Rerereile Kamohi saw a lack of opportunities as a stepping stone to craft a story of success from a simple idea rooted…
Lesotho Poultry Sector Take Shape
By Seahlolo Reporters A year after concerns about industry collapse, Lesotho’s poultry sector is showing renewal following the launch of the Poultry Development Policy and the Lesotho Poultry Industry Association (LePIA), signalling a new direction for the sector. For years, poultry farmers struggled with high feed costs, poor infrastructure, limited financing, weak government coordination, and…
Chef Ska Moteane Brings Sesotho Cuisine and Cultural Value to the Agricultural Conversation
At a gathering dominated by discussions on finance, production, and market access, an unexpected voice shifted the conversation, providing a clarifying reminder that the agricultural sector is not just about supply chains but also about the identity of the food produced. At the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba in Pretoria, Chef Ska Moteane took to the…