A Commitment to Lesotho: UN’s High-Level Visit Aims to Boost Food Security

Lesotho, grappling with a severe food insecurity crisis exacerbated by prolonged drought and El Niño impacts, had more than 699,000 Basotho facing food insecurity by early July 2024. In response, Prime Minister Samuel Matekane declared a state of food disaster on 12 July 2024.

A high-level delegation from three United Nations agencies: FAO, WFP and IFAD visited Lesotho from 4th to 6th August 2024 to address this urgent situation. The visit aimed to bolster agricultural investment and support efforts to improve food and nutrition security in the country.

Invited by His Majesty King Letsie III, who serves as the FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition, the delegation included FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development Valerie Guarnieri, and IFAD Associate Vice-President for Programme Management Donald Brown. This visit underscored the UN’s commitment to tackling Lesotho’s pressing food insecurity issues.

Lesotho has faced significant challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in food production, particularly in cereals, meat, and vegetables. Even in favourable years, the country heavily relied on food imports, primarily from South Africa. The ongoing drought, poor rainfall, and rising global food prices had further deteriorated the situation, increasing vulnerability and unemployment.

Despite these challenges, Lesotho possesses substantial potential for expanding its horticulture, livestock, and dairy industries, with opportunities in trout farming and growing fruits and vegetables. However, only a small fraction of arable land was actively farmed, and even less was under irrigation.

The agriculture sector, which employs around 38% of the population, is essential for poverty alleviation and rural development. There is a pressing need for investments in sustainable farming practices and green technologies to enhance resilience in Lesotho’s agricultural sector.

The National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II) has recognized the importance of improving nutrition through enhanced agricultural production and resilience. It stresses the interdependence of agriculture and ecosystem health, aiming to reverse environmental degradation and adapt to climate change.

During their visit, the UN delegation engaged in field visits, stakeholder meetings, and discussions with government officials, private sector representatives, women and youth groups, and people with disabilities. Key activities included:

• Sunday, 4th August: A joint field visit to Leribe Mahobong, attended by His Majesty King Letsie III and the Prime Minister.

• Monday, 5th August: A stakeholder meeting in Maseru, where representatives from FAO, WFP, IFAD, civil society, and beneficiaries discussed the state of food systems.

• Agriculture Market Day: An event showcasing local agricultural produce and innovations in Masianokeng, Maseru.

• Tuesday, 6th August: A high-level dialogue on food systems at Maseru Avani, followed by a press conference.

During the High-Level Dialogue on Food Systems, His Majesty King Letsie III underscored the critical need to expand agricultural finance in Lesotho, stating, "The cost of agriculture transformation is enormous; thus, access to finance is a catalyst for growth and it must be addressed urgently."

King Letsie III highlighted the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, noting that financial institutions often minimized their exposure to agriculture due to perceived high-risk considerations. "It is our belief and hope that beyond this gathering, issues regarding access to finance in the agriculture space will be addressed," he said.

He remarked that while there were significant impediments to the growth of a high-value agro-food system in Lesotho, finance remained a crucial catalyst for transformation. "To realize advancements in the agro-food value chain, it is essential to have innovative instruments designed by the private sector to mobilize additional resources, address market failures, and remove barriers," he added.

The dialogue occurred against the backdrop of a severe food insecurity crisis in Lesotho. "An alarming 700,000 Basotho—nearly one-third of the country’s population—faced severe food insecurity, a sharp increase from 582,000 last year. The resources required to meet this crisis surged from M1 billion in March 2023 to M3 billion last year and M3 billion this year," King Letsie III noted.

In her address, Delekazi Mokebe, CEO of First National Bank Lesotho and spokesperson for the Bankers Association of Lesotho (BAL), addressed concerns about banks providing credit to farmers. She explained, “The question in the room is, ‘Do banks provide credit to farmers?’ And the answer is yes, of course they do.”

FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu stressed the importance of coordination and timely delivery during the visit. "The first step was to build strength, followed by finding innovative solutions and then swiftly taking action," he advised. He also outlined the three components of food security: food availability, food accessibility, and food affordability, noting their varying levels of challenges worldwide.

Dr. Qu commended His Majesty for designating August as "Food Month" in Lesotho, reflecting the government’s prioritization of food security. He emphasized the critical need for agrifood systems transformation to achieve food security and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stating, “We all need to work together as one big team.”

The visit represented a significant effort to strengthen cooperation between the government, the UN, and local and international partners to achieve food and nutrition security in Lesotho and ensure that future investments in the agricultural sector are impactful and sustainable.