The Prime Minister, Dr Motsoahae Thabane says the agriculture sector has the highest to  reduce rural poverty, generate both on-and-off farm employment, while increasing food security.
This, Dr Thabane said when launching Smallholder Agriculture Development Project (SADP) II and Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA) at an event held in Maseru on Wednesday whereby he indicated that agriculture accounts for less than 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, yet it provides employment for 63 percent of the country’s population and over three quarters of the rural population.
He said with the help of development partners (International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Bank), SADP which is currently being carried out in seven districts of Botha-Bothe, Berea, Leribe, Maseru Rural, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing has registered laudable achievements which among others include 878 groups of Basotho and companies having been assisted with protected shelter, piggery production, bee keeping and extraction to mention but a few. He added that 55 365 households directly benefited under the project.
Dr Thabane indicated that as the country launches SADP II, It is indebted to the World Bank for funding of over M690 million as well as the Japanese Policy and Human Resource Development (PHRD) for its contribution of over M27 million as grant, adding that the government of Lesotho will contribute over M80 million over a period of seven years (2019-2026).
He therefore emphasised that the government will disburse all the funds for the purpose for which they have been earmarked, namely, the betterment of farming community in Lesotho.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Mahala Molapo pledged that his ministry will ensure effective and efficient implementation of the projects for the benefit of the entire Basotho, highlighting that the projects are intended to improve agricultural production and productivity as well as contribute to food security through technology generation and transfer within participating countries.
He noted that the agriculture sector has been declining for the past years due to among others climate change and environmental degradation as well as prolonged drought that hit the country.
On the other hand, the World Bank Country Representative, Ms. Janet Entwistle said agriculture plays an important role in the country’s economy and also improves nutrition among Basotho.
She said the project will encourage economic growth and promote job creation by improving productivity in the agriculture sector.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned projects which will be implemented for seven years (2019-2026), will cover all 10 districts of Lesotho.
Various agricultural products were exhibited at the event to showcase some of crops, vegetables, livestock from different districts.