News
Reclaiming Lesotho’s Status as the Region’s Food Basket
By Seabata Mahao MASERU – As Lesotho prepares for upcoming Public–Private Dialogue (PPD) sessions in 2026, a renewed ambition is taking shape, “Restoring the Mountain Kingdom’s historic position as a leading agricultural exporter in Southern Africa”. The vision was forcefully articulated by Chaba Mokuku, Managing Director of the Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project, who…
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 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…
Juncao Mushrooms, A Potential Export to China
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…
TRC Microscopes Women Farmers’ Rights
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…
Cattle Farmers’ Lives in Crisis as Climate Change Fuels Lumpy Skin Disease
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….
Declining Grazelands Threaten Rural Livelihoods as Farmers Turn to Fodder Production
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…
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Validated
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…
SADC Parliaments Commit to Climate Justice for Women and Youth
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,…
Science Journalism Key to Informed Societies
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…
Safeguarding Soils, Vegetation and Wildlife for a Sustainable Future
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…
The Misfortune of Hoko’s 197 Sheep
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…
15 Sheep Slaughtered Overnight by Unknown Wild Predator
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…