Pheello Mosesi
At least M 1, 217, 450 was raised at the Sheep and Goat auction organised by the Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Security in January.
The auction was hoisted alongside the Lesotho National Farmers Union and hundreds of hopeful farmers gathered, eager to acquire new additions to their livestock.
With 70 rams, 17 goats, and 150 ewes available, the auction generated anticipation and excitement.
The event’s total proceeds amounted to M1, 217, 450, with the costliest goat, ram, and ewe fetching M30, 000, M20, 100, and M3, 000, respectively.
Reflecting on the previous year’s wool trading performance, Agriculture Minister, Thabo Mofosi, urged farmers to focus on supplying the market with the most demanded products.
In 2023, the minister revealed that lambs’ wool sold at M163 per kilogram, intermediate sheep at M121 per kilogram, and grown sheep at M116 per kilogram.
South African farmer and sheep breeder, Jacques Pienaar graced the occasion alongside key figures such as Moshe Mosaase, the principal secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, LNWMGA spokesperson Mokoinihi Thinyane, representatives of LENAFU, and Minister.
Thinyane, highlighted his association’s commitment to the Wool and Mohair Production Project (WAMPP) which endorsed the Wool and Mohair production in Lesotho with M15, 000, 000 to ensure its success.
He emphasised the need for ongoing monitoring to prevent the misuse of project resources after their conclusion.
Looking ahead, Thinyane expressed anticipation for the Wool and Mohair Value Chain Competitiveness Project.
He urged the government to ensure its timely commencement, addressing concerns about the previous project’s delayed start, and additionally, he requested a veterinarian for Quthing, emphasising the inconvenience and costs farmers incur by traveling to Maseru for medical attention.
Minister Thabo Mofosi acknowledged the impact of WAMPP, citing its role in improving sheep and goat quality.
He credited the project with creating 40,000 new jobs nationwide, contributing significantly to the country’s economic stability.
Mofosi highlighted the project’s support for farmers in cross-border trading and obtaining gene inseminations from South Africa.
As WAMPP approaches its conclusion, Mofosi announced the ministry’s excitement about commencing the Wool and Mohair Value Chain Competitiveness Project this year.
“This new project aims to process wool and mohair materials locally, from raw form to finished products, enhancing the industry’s competitiveness,” he said.
