News
15-Year-Old Dog Farmer Steals the Spotlight at Farmers Pitso Awards
The crowd erupted in cheers as 15-year-old Mohanoe Manyanye walked onto the stage to receive his award, first prize in dog breeding at this year’s Farmers Pitso Awards. His bright smile told a story of hard work, patience and an unusual kind of farming passion, one that doesn’t sprout from the soil but wags its…
Agriculture and Journalism Take Center Stage at Kenya’s Historic IFAJ Congress
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)…
Agricultural Insurance, A Lifeline for Lesotho Farmers, Feasibility Study Shows
By Lerato Matheka Lesotho’s farmers may soon have the safety net they have long been waiting for. A newly completed feasibility study on agricultural insurance has revealed both the urgent need and the possibility of rolling out tailored insurance schemes to protect farmers against climate shocks, livestock disease, and market losses. According to the Feasibility…
SMARTD’s 11th Festival Rekindles Basotho’s Bond with the Land,
…Celebrates Seeds of Heritage The small town of Ha-Sekake in the Qacha’s Nek districtcame alive with colour, sound, and hope. Farmers, school children, conservationists, and academics marched through the streets, their banners dancing in the breeze, their Sesotho poems echoing ancestral wisdom. They were not marching for politics or protest, but for seeds, the humble…
Counting the Hidden Deaths: Climate Change, Health and Food Crisis
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…
Africa’s Warming Crisis: The State of the Environment Report Rings the Alarm
…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’s Future Lies in Bioeconomy, Says Scientist
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…
Farmers Pitso Awards Introduces a New Category
For generations, horses in Lesotho have been more than animals. They were once indispensable for transport and farm labour but while machinery has replaced many of their traditional roles, horses are now finding new life in sports, recreation, and cultural heritage. At this year’s Farmers Pitso Awards, that legacy was formally honoured with the introduction…
Seahlolo Newspaper Honors Best Schools in Agriculture at Farmers’ Pitso Awards
Seahlolo Newspaper once again demonstrated its commitment to building the future of Lesotho’s farming by honoring schools that excel in agriculture during the Farmers’ Pitso Awards earlier this month. A total of M10,000 was awarded to support school gardening tools, with Qhomane High School taking first prize, Mohale’s Hoek High School second, and Ratsoeu High…
Lesotho Hosts First National Agricultural Trade Fair
Lesotho celebrated a historic milestone in agriculture this month, hosting its very first national agricultural trade fair, themed “Strengthening market systems and value chain linkages for inclusive agriculture.” The event, a collaborative effort between the government, Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP),…
