News
Climate Crisis Comes at a High Price: Lesotho Warned
Lesotho faces a staggering financial burden of over US$2.5 billion to deal with the harsh effects of climate change—a cost the country simply cannot afford to ignore. This warning was delivered by Teke Ramotubei, Director of the Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS), at a national climate action event where leaders, scientists, and development partners gathered to…
Lesotho on High Alert as Ministry Sets Up Rapid Response Committees to Guard Against Animal Disease Outbreaks
By Molula Mofosi & Thoboloko Ntšonyane The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition has taken decisive steps to strengthen Lesotho’s preparedness for agricultural outbreaks by establishing Rapid Response Committees at national, district, and local levels. The move comes as neighbouring South Africa battles a severe outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) with 270…
Ministry’s Youth Job Pledge Takes Shape with 1,000 Young Farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition made headlines with a bold commitment to unlock 28,870 jobs for Basotho youth through the second phase of the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project (SADP II). That promise has now begun to take root through the Youth Mentorship Programme, which was officially launched on 21 July 2025. At…
King Letsie III and International Delegates Celebrate Agricultural Innovation
His Majesty King Letsie III, accompanied by international delegates from the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), attended the highly anticipated Agricultural Market Show held on August 5th in Masianokeng. The event, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, as part of Food Month…
Mystery Beast Slaughters Farmer’s Flock, M21, 000 Lost
A mysterious predator has devastated a livestock farmer in Thabakhubelu, killing 14 sheep in a single morning and sparking fear across the rural community of Mphoko Lumaluma, in the Mohale’s Hoek District. The victim, Mashapha Lethoko, estimates the loss at M21, 000 based on his usual sale price of M1, 500 per sheep. “I have…
Meraka Insurance Brings Hope to Lesotho’s Livestock Farmers
By Seabata Mahao From stock theft to disease outbreaks, the loss of even a single animal can be devastating to Basotho farmers who rears sheep and goat. Recognising the series of vulnerabilities in the livestock sector of agriculture, Alliance Insurance Group introduced Meraka Cover, a dedicated livestock insurance product designed to safeguard the livelihoods of…
Wool & Mohair Export Permits Go Digital
From 1 September, all import and export permit applications for animal products and fibre will be processed by the Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW), this was revealed during a recent stakeholder meeting on 29 May 2025. The digital permit system, introduced by the Government of Lesotho with funding from CAFI, aims to eliminate the paper-based…
Lesotho Removed from Hunger Hotspot List, but FAO Warns of Worsening Regional Crisis
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. In a joint…
The Rise of Aquaculture Industry in Lesotho
Lesotho formally accepted the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on May 20, 2025 making it the 99th WTO member to deposit its acceptance of the agreement. While Lesotho is a landlocked country with no marine fisheries, it recognises the importance of the agreement in addressing harmful subsidies and supporting global efforts to…
SADP Youth Mentorship Programme Offers Path to Agricultural Prosperity
In an effort to empower a new generation of farmers, the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II) has launched a youth mentorship initiative that equips young Basotho with the skills, knowledge, and financial support necessary to pursue agriculture as a business. According to Matching Grants Officer Relebohile Khathibe, the project’s design is rooted in…
Former PM Majoro Among SADP Beneficiaries
The Smallholder Agriculture Development Project II (SADP II) has officially launched the implementation of its third and final round of matching grants, awarding support to 387 beneficiaries, including former Prime Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro. Funded by the World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Government of Japan, SADP II aims to support…