By Neo Kolane
A group of farmers in some parts of Mokhotlong district want assistance with accessing the market so they can sell their products.
These farmers who are based in the villages of Tlokoeng, Sekokong and Poopa specialize in maize, potatoes and beans production because soil in those places is suitable for these crops.
In an interview with theReporter, a farmer from Sekokong village Lebohang Thantṧi explained that he and his counterparts buy themselves seeds and other inputs and do not rely on intervention from government.
Thantṧi said he was even considering approaching the big construction companies working at the Polihali Dam and Tunnel Transfer range for farming assistance.
The acting area chief of Poopa, Relebohile Nthako, said the local farmers do not have information about available market opportunities to sell their produce. He said they would like to be enlightened about larger markets where their produce can be sold in large quantities.
He reiterated that the farmers are desperate to gain access into the market, adding that lack of coordination among them was negatively affecting productivity.
Approached to cast light on opportunities available to farmers and how they can access them, the programmes manager of the Lesotho National Farmers Union (LENAFU) Khotso Lepheana told this publication that Lesotho depends mostly on donors like Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) which distributes seed in large quantities at the same time.
Lepheana said this forces farmers to plant and harvest at the same time.
He indicated that after harvesting, the farmers flock to the market en masse, leading to inability to control prices. When the market is saturated with the same product this lowers its price.
“There are options like introducing a structured planning of ploughing and planting the seeds. If FAO is going to donate seeds, it should break the farmers into different segments; some should plough in August and others in September.
“Farmers have to be assisted by being compensated to should plough in batches so that harvesting does not happen at the same time.
“It will help in retaining the market for a longer time, compared to harvesting at the same time,” he said.
He added that another option which could help, is to set up a warehouse where farmers can store their produce for readiness for open market.
He emphasised the need for a coordinated farming system which will enable them to work together as producers of same vegetables and cereals.
