News
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…
Young Farmers Take Centre Stage at 5th Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba
The 5th annual Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba, hosted by Food for Mzansi in Pretoria, brought together hundreds of young farmers from across South Africa and the continent in a powerful show of ambition, resilience and growing influence in the agricultural sector. Held at Choose Life Church, the two-day gathering attracted nearly 2,000 participants, with young…
Why Insurance Must Start Speaking the Language of Farmers
Risk is a one component that makes agriculture what it is, a constant headache that is often ignored. A single afternoon of heavy snowfall, drought or pest outbreak can erase years of investment, yet for many farmers, agricultural insurance remains out of reach, often viewed not as a necessity but as a luxury. This tension…