The Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro says the establishment of the Maluti Fresh Produce Market will help the agriculturist and horticulture farmers access the market.
He said this when launching the Maluti Fresh Produce Market at the ceremony held at Ha-Tikoe in Maseru on Wednesday.
Dr Majoro said the launching of this market marks a step closer for Lesotho to be a self-sufficient country in food production as it was known as a greenery country.
He said the market will help farmers to find consumers for their products, saying the government’s mandate for the country to be self-sufficient will come true as effective efforts have been made on the production side to ensure that Lesotho becomes an independent nation in food production.
He further mentioned that the launching of this market will create job opportunities for Basotho Youth hence eradicate poverty.
Moreover, the Prime Minister noted that the secondary market will be opened in the Leribe district, saying this will help farmers in the North to sell their products rather bringing them to Maseru.
It is at this launch that he announced that the government of Lesotho is in the process of setting up a fund which will be named Millennium Impact Fund where farmers will request funds to fund their project, adding that this will happen after the government has signed the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact in January next year.
He further mentioned that the government has a number of strategies in place to ensure that agricultural production becomes sustainable, singling out Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP) where he noted that through SADP the government has made a significant contribution in food production in the country.
Also speaking, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Thabiso Molapo thanked all the development partners who have supported the government and ensuring that this project becomes a success.
He said the government has made one of the historical milestones in the history of Lesotho by opening the first fresh produce market for farmers, saying this will provide them with a sustainable market for their products.
Dr Molapo said Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) has been mandated by his ministry to ensure that this facility is operational and is able to absorb Basotho products.
He said this initiative is meant for economic growth, job creation and sustainable development where farmers will be assisted to participate in the international trade, noting that they are expected to use this opportunity as a steppingstone to export their products.
“We expect Basotho to use this opportunity to export their product in the world market,” Dr Molapo explained.
In conclusion, he noted that with the implementation of the national trade policy framework together with its strategy and national export strategy, the government expects to see growth in sectors such as clothing and textile, adding that they are certain that products from these sectors will deepen Lesotho’s footprints in the exports market world-wide.
On the same note, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Letsitsi Mokoma said the operation of the Maluti Fresh Produce Market will create jobs for Basotho as this launch will encourage youth to engage and also invest in agriculture.
Mr. Mokoma added that this market centre will respond to the needs of the farmers, saying the second fresh produce market will be launched in the Leribe district before the end of October.
Also speaking, the LNDC interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Molise Ramaili said the market offers Basotho a place for fresh produce, storage and trading as a one-stop-shop, adding that Basotho will easily make profits for their produce.
He noted that LNDC has partnered with World Food Programme (WFP) and Standard Lesotho Bank to promote farmers that are operating in small scale to operate in large scale, noting that within the period of three months LNDC will launch a fund amounting to M2 million for legible farmers to apply for access to finance.
Mr. Ramaili stressed that LNDC will not manage the market but will be managed by the market master.
Speaking on behalf of retailers, Mr. Sam Mphana expressed hope that with this launch the import of vegetables and fruits will not be allowed in the country unless there is a shortage in supply as this will discourage the retailers to buy from the market.
The Maluti Fresh Produce Market is the first fresh produce market to be launched in the country. It is intended to offer Basotho Farmers access to the market.
By Staff Reporter: Noliwe Velaphe
