Seabata Mahao
In a significant boost to Lesotho’s agricultural sector, two local producers, Litsoa-Mobung Fresh Produce and Riverside Farm, were awarded funding in Maseru.
Litsoa-Mobung Mobung Fresh Produce received M161,000 and Riverside Farm received M39 780 through the Green Value Chains Project and the Local Supplier Development Programme (GVC-LSDP).
The initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), Standard Lesotho Bank (SLB), and FinMark Trust, aims to promote sustainable farming practices and enhance local supply chains.
The funding will enable the farmers to expand their operations, invest in modern farming equipment, and adopt eco-friendly techniques, thereby increasing productivity and creating job opportunities.
Litsoa-Mobung Fresh Produce, already exporting to South Africa, and Riverside Farm, a supplier to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) locally, exemplify the initiative’s focus on boosting market reach and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Hoaba Nkunyane from Litsoa-Mobung Fresh Produce expressed his gratitude and said their future is bright.
“We should use this opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable future in farming,” Nkunyane said.
Giving her remarks, the LNDC Trade Promotion Officer, ‘Makananelo Chefa stated that the GVCP and the LSDP are critical in driving sustainable agricultural development in Lesotho.
“By supporting these farmers, we are taking significant steps towards achieving food security and promoting economic growth. The GVC-LSDP was piloted in 2021, and in that phase, the project provided capacity building to 50 farm assurers on the adoption and implementation of Global G.A.P and food safety standards to advance national capacity and to enhance the competitiveness of priority agricultural value chains,”
“The role of the trained farm assurers was to assess farms, guide and handhold farmers into implementing good farming practices and adhere to food safety standards and also recommend certification of eligible farms,” Chefa stated.
On his part, the Head of Business and Commercial Clients at SLB, Keketso Makara, commended the farmers for their hard work saying that as they embark on their journey with the support of this funding, it is hoped that their success will inspire other local farmers to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to the green transformation of Lesotho’s agricultural sector.
“Use the money wisely, our mission is to see other farmers prosper through this program,”
“The GVC-LSDP is designed to support local farmers by providing them with the necessary financial resources and technical assistance to improve their productivity and market reach. By focusing on green value chains, the initiative encourages environmentally sustainable practices that contribute to the overall development of the agricultural sector in Lesotho,” Makara stated.
The collaborative effort underscores the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving food security and economic growth in Lesotho. By supporting these farmers, the GVC-LSDP not only advances sustainable development goals but also contributes to building a resilient agricultural sector poised for future growth and innovation.