His Majesty King Letsie III in his capacity as the African Union (AU) Nutrition Champion and also United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Special Ambassador for Nutrition has commended the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antὀnio Guterres by creating an important platform for global leaders and key stakeholders to share ideas on how to chart a path towards the creation of more sustainable and equitable food system.
His Majesty was speaking at the National Food Systems Dialogue held virtually on Wednesday.
He said the dialogue is aimed at producing inevitable ideas and policies that the country can present to the world at the United Nations Food Summit in September this year.
 His Majesty said with only 10 years left before the 2030 agenda which is the year that countries committed to attain 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is evident that many of those critical targets remain far out of reach hence without improved food systems that encompass the entire process from production to consumption of food in a sustainable manner as identified as critical and instrumental attainment of the 17 SDGs cannot be achieved.
He expressed hope and expectation that the inputs and contributions which were gathered from the districts countrywide will form the backbone of the outcomes of this national dialogue so that the country will carry a national position when going to New York in September.
He therefore thanked the development partners for their assistance and guidance in this process leading towards the United Nations Food Systems Summit, saying with their assistance Basotho will have a seat at the table.
He remarked that the economic devastation brought by COVID-19 has compelled countries to work together in search for global solutions that will address global challenges, appealing to nations to work together to build robust and resilient food systems that can help stimulate food security speedy global economic recovery.
He remarked that it is time that Basotho produce their own food for families and the community, saying they have to produce enough food supply, stressing that they (as a nation) cannot continue depending on donations and importing food.
Also speaking, the acting UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Betty Wabunoha said the UN Summit in September 2021 will establish the future direction of food systems as well as to inspire actions to help build better in the work of the COVID-19 crisis, commenting that they are aware that transformation of food systems has the potential to end poverty and contribute towards food security.
She said transforming food systems have been recognised as central in efforts to achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030, saying the Lesotho Food System Submit is part of the global effort by the UN Secretary-General to enable the governments to engage with local food system stakeholders and explore how food systems can make significant contributions to the realisation of all sustainable goals.
On the same note, the Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro said the National Dialogue discussions were very interesting with lots of information that points out that the country has many problems but also outlining that there are many people who have solutions related to issues discussed.
Dr Majoro said such discussions need to be held regularly, noting that Lesotho has a rich history of being a trader in foodstuffs to many countries. He stressed that Lesotho needs to be a country that feeds itself.
He noted that it is disappointing that nutritionist experts identified the relapse tendencies regarding nutrition in the country, noting that it is time that the country retraces its steps and return to a nation that can feed itself.
He said the discussions come at the right time when the Cabinet is the in-depth discussion regarding policymaking in Lesotho hence pleased to announce that the policy on livestock has been adopted while the plant protection policy is being discussed.
The National Food System Dialogue follows the district level dialogues countrywide, which aimed at finding the challenges affecting food sustainability in the country and establishing solutions to such challenges.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe