By Kabelo Masoabi and Katleho Mohanoe
The 2024 World Food Day celebration in Lesotho will take place on November 8 at the Ha Koali Resource Center in Quthing.
Originally established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1979, World Food Day aims to raise awareness and promote action to end hunger and malnutrition. Although the event is globally observed on October 16, Lesotho’s celebration was postponed due to King Letsie III and Agriculture Minister Thabo Mofosi attending the main celebration in Rome.
This year’s theme, “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future,” underscores the importance of universal access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
In Rome, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted the urgent need for efficient, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems, warning that “there is no time to lose” with 730 million people facing hunger worldwide.
His Majesty, King Letsie III, FAO’s Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition, reinforced this commitment by advocating for legislative measures to ensure food security in Africa, including a new model law on food security developed by the African Union in collaboration with FAO.
An Agricultural Showcase in Quthing
District Agricultural Officer Mabusetsa Makau revealed that this year’s celebration, organised with the Quthing Farmers Forum and Lesotho National Farmers Union, will be Lesotho’s largest agricultural showcase to date.
“The event will offer networking, skill-sharing, and trading opportunities, while showcasing climate-smart farming techniques, block farming, and conservation agriculture practices used in Lesotho,” Makau said adding the event would also feature livestock displays and new crop cultivation methods, allowing visitors to observe innovative farming techniques.
Highlights, the DAO said, will include displays of livestock such as rabbits, chickens, and improved breeds of sheep and goats, as well as machinery demonstrations.
“We are ready to show the world what Quthing farmers can produce,” said Monnapeli Maqolo, a local livestock farmer.
Makau added that attendees will visit a nearby 19-year-old farmer who has successfully turned a rocky landscape into productive farmland, exemplifying resilience and innovation in agriculture.
Addressing Hunger Amid Global Challenges
Lesotho’s celebration takes place at a critical time, when the country faces a national food insecurity disaster affecting 70,000 people.
Recent findings from the World Food Programme highlight that poverty is widespread and persistent in Lesotho, particularly in rural areas. Nearly half the population lives in poverty, with about a quarter facing extreme poverty.
“The celebration will focus on districts like Quthing, which is among the hardest hit by hunger and poverty,” Makau said, emphasising the urgent need to support and promote sustainable agriculture to alleviate these issues.
The event, sponsored by FAO, will bring together government bodies, farmers’ associations, non-governmental organisations, and agribusinesses, all committed to eradicating hunger and poverty in the region.
The event promises a blend of educational activities and practical demonstrations, positioning it as a platform for exchanging knowledge and promoting agricultural resilience.
