News
Donor-Funded Agriculture Projects Uplift Lesotho’s Rural Economy
…Over M550 million grants and loans mobilised in the last three years Agriculture remains the heartbeat of Lesotho’s rural economy, and while government allocations provide foundational support, it is externally funded agricultural projects that are driving most of the sector’s meaningful transformation. The Consolidated Budget Report for 2025/2026 reveals that over M400 million worth of…
UN Flags Lesotho’s Persisting Food Security Crisis
Lesotho continues to grapple with deepening food insecurity and widespread malnutrition, despite national strategies aimed at tackling hunger, a recent United Nations report said. The report has raised red flags over the country’s persistent failure to ensure food and nutrition security, especially for vulnerable populations. Compiled by the UN Country Team, the report reveals that…
Lesotho’s Poultry Dreams Grounded
…As USDA cancels the USD13.4 STEPS project A sudden and unexpected decision by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cancel all existing grants under its Food for Progress program has directly hit the heart of ambitious Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises in the Poultry Sector (STEPS) project, leaving Lesotho’s food security and the livelihoods…
Agriculture’s M10.6 million Revenue Footprint in Lesotho
In the previous financial year the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition projects to generate over M10.6 million in direct revenues. This was revealed by the 2025/2026 Consolidated Budget Report which recorded a growing recognition of the Agriculture sector’s potential to generate meaningful income through value chain development, livestock trade, and exports, strengthening the…
Tracking Lesotho’s Agricultural Growth
…Farmers accessing subsidised seeds and fertilizers increased by 15 The agricultural sector in Lesotho is on a cautious yet promising path of transformation, as shown in the 2025/2026 Consolidated Budget Report. Despite persisting structural and climatic challenges, several initiatives have recorded measurable progress — from increased land under cultivation to revived investments in irrigation and…
The AgrInvest, A Blueprint for an Inclusive, Investable Future
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has financed AgrInvest, an initiative that stripped bare the real issues of Lesotho’s agriculture sector. At a time when the livelihoods of over 60% of Basotho hinge on agriculture — and yet the sector contributes less than 8% to national GDP — the future of…
SADP II Thrives as Funders Conduct Vital Support Mission
The Second Phase of the Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP II) recently hosted its funders for a critical support mission, an exercise deemed essential for maintaining the momentum of the project and ensuring its alignment with strategic development goals. Speaking on the purpose of the visit, SADP II Communications Specialist, Malefetsane Raliengoane, explained that the…
Students and Farmers Unite at High School Agriculture Fair
The grounds of Hlotse Agriculture College in Leribe buzzed with energy on a bright Friday morning as high school students from across the district gathered for a unique and inspiring occasion. Far more than just a fun day out, the event was a vibrant celebration of agriculture, youth, and the promise of a thriving future…
Lesotho Removed from Hunger Hotspot List, but FAO Warns of Worsening Regional Crisis
By Lerato Matheka 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….
Shifting Tastes: How Consumer Choices Are Fueling Lesotho’s High-Value Crop Revolution
A quiet agricultural revolution is taking shape in Lesotho’s agriculture landscape. The once-unfamiliar hues of purple cabbage, dark green baby marrow, and fresh cucumbers have now become everyday favourites on vendor stalls. These are no ordinary vegetables—they represent a growing category known as high-value crops, and their increasing popularity is being driven by changing consumer…
Tsikoane Market Centre Underused and Overlooked
Despite its promise to boost local trade and farmer incomes, the Tsikoane Market Centre in Leribe stands as a stark symbol of exclusion and underutilisation, leaving many in the community disillusioned. Member of Parliament for Tsikoane, Malefetsane Mabote, raised urgent concerns about the facility’s failure to serve the broader population. He questioned both the limited…
The Life and Legacy of a Woman Farmer
Eighty-one-year-old Mamakhaola Peete rises before dawn each day to tend to her livestock and work her land, a routine she has followed since she married into the Peete family more than sixty years ago. Her weathered hands, steady and skilled, tell the story of a lifetime of dedication to farming and the land that sustains…