On the invitation of His Majesty King Letsie III, who serves as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition, a high-level delegation from three United Nations (UN) agencies will visit Lesotho from August 04 to 06.
The delegation includes FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, World Food Programme (WFP) Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development Valerie Guarnieri, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Associate Vice-President for Programme Management Donal Brown.
According to Ms Reitumetse Russel, the UN Communications Officer, this visit aims to strengthen investment in Lesotho’s agricultural sector and support the country’s efforts to improve food and nutrition security.
It has been noted in studies that Lesotho faces significant challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in cereal, meat, and vegetable production. Even in favourable years, the country meets only 30 percent of its cereal needs, relying heavily on imports, primarily from South Africa, resulting in high food prices and increases the vulnerability of households engaged in low-productivity farming, herding, or informal employment.
Russel said currently, Lesotho is grappling with drought and the impacts of El Niño, leaving over 699,000 people food insecure and in response, Prime Minister Samuel Matekane declared a state of food disaster on July 12, 2024.
She further mentioned, despite these challenges, Lesotho holds considerable potential for expanding its horticulture, meat, poultry, and dairy industries while opportunities also exist in trout farming in the highlands and growing fruits and vegetables.
The visiting delegation will engage with His Majesty King Letsie III, senior government officials, and representatives from civil society, the private sector, women and youth groups, and people with disabilities.
Their visit will include a joint field visit, stakeholder meetings, and a high-level dialogue on food systems.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA) 2/8/2024
