With the purpose of strengthening investment in Lesotho’s Agricultural Sector and supporting the country’s efforts to improve food and nutrition security, a high level delegation from three United Nations (UN) agencies on Sunday visited Mahobong orchard.
The delegation came at the invitation of His Majesty King Letsie III, who serves as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition.
The delegation included FAO Director General Mr. Qu, Dongyu, World Food Programme (WFP) Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development Mrs. Valerie Guarnieri and IFAD Associate Vice President for Programme Management Mr. Donal Brown.
Speaking at the event Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Mokhethi Shelile said this a transformative journey Lesotho has embarked on supported by National Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026 extended to 2027.
He explained that NSDP II is aimed at creating employment with fostering such initiatives by the private sector, moving from consumer based to high production into selling.
Mr Shelile said to address the challenges through NSDP II his ministry developed National Trade Policy Framework 2022 to 2025 to help guide the country to more diversified and resilient economy.
” Today we are here to celebrate one such investment of horticulture, it being a clear indication on how the National Trade Policy impacts positively,” he stated.
Moreover, the Minister highlighted that horticulture creates employment but also promotes food security.
He expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the development partners who stood by and assisted them to reach this important milestone.
Echoing the same sentiments the CAFI Project Manager Mr. Chaba Mokuku said horticulture initiative is a part of the broader government strategy to diversify the economy in the country.
He explained that the first big commercial farm covering 10.7 hectors was established in 2012 as mixed orchard.
” It was followed by second one of 15.6 hectors established in 2015 and the other one of 15.1 established at Likhetlane the same year,” he said.
Mr. Mokuku said Lesotho has potential opportunity to horticulture due to many attributes such as high altitude, lower temperatures and high quality water from the beautiful mountains sold to countries such as South Africa and Mozambique.
Present at the visit were also former Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Mothejoa Metsing, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lejone Mpotjoane, Minister of Public Service Mr. Mputi Mputi, Minister of Agriculture, Nutrition and Food Security Mr. Thabo Mofosi, Minister of Labour Mr. Tseliso Mokhosi, member of Parliament for Mahobong constituency Mr. Nkhethoa Sebetsa, Member of Parliament for Thaba Phats’oa constituency, Member of Parliament for Kolonyama constituency and Lesotho Ambassador to Italy Chief Thesele ‘Maseribane.
The UN delegation will be in the country from August 4 to 6, 2024.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA) 5/8/2024
