By Seleoe Nonyane
The Disaster Management Authority (DMA), through the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC) says Lesotho needs M350 million to overcome rampant food insecurity.
This, after a report by LVAC demonstrated that the country might be facing a hunger crisis.
The LVAC which is mandated by law under the Coordination of the DMA embarked on the annual Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis exercise for the current year (2022/23) whereby data collection commenced on June 6 this year.
Early this year, DMA said a study conducted by the authority estimated that at least 338 000 Basotho would face severe hunger between the months of January and March this year. Therefore, according to the latest report presented last week, 521 000 people are estimated to be food insecure for 2022/2023.
The report also stated that very poor and poor households are likely to experience food gaps that will slightly intensify as the year progresses.
It is said that food access has been affected by inflation, overall food prices, level of production and level of income for households
The report says that production has declined even at household production as some households have lost income.
While presenting the report, the LVAC representative said that there is a need to prioritize interventions that are going to save lives.
In order to improve the food security in the country, the LVAC laid down some recommendations that may help the country in the long run.
LVAC observed that there is need for immediate conditional and unconditional monetary assistance to all households having survival food deficits.
It also appealed for blanket provision of agricultural inputs to farmers with livelihood protection deficits.
The LVAC recommended the government to continue with local purchase of grains and beans from local producers to promote market opportunities and to support those households experiencing food gaps.
Therefore, this week, DMA started work of providing food to vulnerable households in Maseru and Mohale’s hoek districts consisting of 12.5kg of maize meal and 5kg of beans.
The public relations officer of DMA, Mahlape Koali said this is the produce that was purchased from Basotho farmers with the aim of assisting those who are vulnerable to hunger.
In Mohale’s hoek work started at five constituencies of Taung, Qhalasi, Mekaling, Qaaqthu and Mpharane.
Meanwhile, in Maseru the councils donate that were provided with food packages were Kubake, Manonyane, Ratau, Qiloane, Makhoarane, Mazenod, Lilala and Mohlakeng.
“The initiative follows the previous LVAC report that recommended local purchase of maize and beans which are meant to be distributed to the vulnerable hence this work we have started.
“DMA bought the maize and packaged it and this initiative will take place in all the ten districts. We identify vulnerable councils through our DMA Team which comprises of members of the community then pick the most vulnerable households,” she said.
The LVAC further recommended the government to consider subsidising both food and fuel prices for the entire population and also continue implementing the agricultural inputs subsidy.
