‘Mantšali Phakoana
Lesotho’s commitment to increase crop production this year is likely to falter amidst widespread concerns that some farmers failed to acquire seeds and fertilisers on time under the government subsidy programme.
The situation was worsened by the looting of fertilisers by civil servants for their personal gain, the ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition acknowledged this week.
However, the ministry could not establish the number of bags or amount of fertiliser stolen by its employees.
Small-scale farmers told theReporter in separate interviews this week that they were forced to buy implements from private suppliers whose prices are much higher than what the government charges.
This saw them significantly reducing their acreages or abandoning their fields altogether.
The farmers also alleged that while they failed to acquire seeds and fertiliser, some influential people including politicians had it easy.
Speaking in the National Assembly on March 22, 2023, minister of agriculture, food security and nutrition, Thabo Mofosi promised to increase crop production after his ministry was allocated M567, 394, 199 for the 2023/24 fiscal year.
Mofosi noted that this budget would allow him to increase crop and fruit production in the country during this period.
He further promised that his ministry would continue subsidising seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides at between 70 and 80 percent of their original prices.
“The government is committed to meet farmers halfway in a bid to increase food security in the country,” Mofosi said then.
However, farmers interviewed by this publication painted a different picture.
They said they failed to plough for the summer cropping season due to unavailability of seeds and fertilisers from the ministry.
They claimed that they went to different district agriculture offices since the beginning of the summer cropping season in September/October to buy inputs such as fertilisers, maize seeds, herbicides and pesticides but they came back empty handed.
The farmers also alleged that there was favouritism in acquiring the inputs, with some prominent individuals easily able to buy fertiliser in bulk while they were told the commodity had run out.
The deputy chairperson of Kopanang Lihoai based at Ha-Majara in Leribe district, Arola Molupe, said they went to the department of agriculture at Maputsoe to buy fertiliser without any success.
Kopanang Lihoai is a licensed and certified group of 70 of small-scale farmers who make contributions towards the purchase of fertiliser every farming season.
This year the group contributed money based on the number of bags each household needed, ranging between one and 15.
“We made contributions to buy about 400 bags of fertiliser at Maputsoe but failed. We went there not once, but five times,” Molupe said.
He added that they would leave their homes at 6am hoping to get fertiliser but government officers manning the stores would tell them they had run out and they had to come back another day.
“What surprised us is that we would see some prominent people leaving with fertilisers in bulk, sometimes about 600-bag trucks. Unfortunately, we couldn’t even ask thinking it would make matters worse, especially because we were desperate to get services.
“It is very sad that in this country, if you are poor like us, you will never get services from government departments. You will die poor,” Molupe said.
He indicated that they had to return the members’ contributions because they could not find fertilisers until it was too late for some of them to plant maize.
Other farmers incurred more expenses by travelling all the way to Berea district to buy fertilisers from individuals at double government prices.
“They were as a result forced to reduce the number of bags to buy, meaning less production for them this year,” Molupe noted.
Another farmer from Nazareth, Lefa Mokhatholane, said he failed to plough his fields because he could not find maize seeds at the country’s largest government store at Ha-Foso Maseru.
He pointed out that out of his 12 fields, he managed to plough only two because he could not afford to buy maize seeds from private stores due to high prices.
“Government subsidy was better because a 10 kg bag of fertiliser costs M110 but individual suppliers sell the same bag at M380. That is a huge difference, especially if one has to plough many fields like me.
“I could not afford that amount if I were to plough all my fields. I have been ploughing maize more than any other crops and I’ve never imagined myself buying maize meal. However, I think next year I will be among those who will buy maize meal since I also have people manning my cattle posts,” Mokhatholane said.
Another farmer, Mojapela Mosuoane from Serutle in Botha-Bothe said he had to use animal manure and ashes as fertiliser.
Mosuoane said they went to the ministry at least three times but they were told to come another day when the fertilisers would be available.
However, he indicated that using manure does not work effectively because of drought.
“As you go around the fields, you can see a huge difference between farmers who used modern fertilisers and those that have used animal manure. The maize leaves look different. Those like mine are stunted and pale, not only because of the type of soil in the field, but because we used animal manure. It is not effective like modern fertilisers, not anymore.
“This year is different, it’s a lot more challenging with the shortage of farming inputs and high prices of fertiliser, combined with changing weather patterns. All these threaten our livelihoods; our survival will never be the same gain,” Mosuoane noted.
Approached for comment on the farmers’ claims, senior information officer in the ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition, Lereko Masopha, said he needed to enquire with the said district offices first.
Masopha noted that farmers prefer different types of fertilisers, meaning they could have wanted what was not available in their stores.
He indicated that it could also be possible that there were no fertilisers at all since the ministry had encountered a problem of civil servants looting the commodity for their personal gain.
“This year we had bought more quantities of fertilisers than any other years but we had a challenge of people stealing from the ministry,” Masopha said, pledging to establish from the implicated districts what real inspired.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Lesotho Annual Country Report shows that the food security situation in the country deteriorated in 2022.
It further states that the number of food insecure people will rise due to three consecutive years of drought, the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the global food crisis, heavy rains during the planting season affecting production, and decreased income from livestock and related product sales.
Contacted for comment, Lesotho National Farmers’ Union (LENAFU) president Khotso Lepheana said the issue of unavailability of seeds and fertilisers had not been brought to their attention.
He pointed out that all the union was aware of was that the ministry of agriculture had notified them that they had decentralised the distribution of farming inputs so that farmers do not need to go to the large store at Ha Foso.
“According to what we were told, the subsidy prices were uniform all across the country. I do not know if what we were told was practical, but as a union we have not received any complaints or reports whatsoever,” Lepheana noted.
According to World Bank Lesotho, agriculture is an important source of employment and subsistence in the country, with the majority of Basotho – more than 70 percent – dependent on agriculture for both food and income.
The sector holds the most potential for increasing food security, reducing rural poverty and generating on and off farm jobs.
‘Mantšali Phakoana
Lesotho’s commitment to increase crop production this year is likely to falter amidst widespread concerns that some farmers failed to acquire seeds and fertilisers on time under the government subsidy programme.
The situation was worsened by the looting of fertilisers by civil servants for their personal gain, the ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition acknowledged this week.
However, the ministry could not establish the number of bags or amount of fertiliser stolen by its employees.
Small-scale farmers told theReporter in separate interviews this week that they were forced to buy implements from private suppliers whose prices are much higher than what the government charges.
This saw them significantly reducing their acreages or abandoning their fields altogether.
The farmers also alleged that while they failed to acquire seeds and fertiliser, some influential people including politicians had it easy.
Speaking in the National Assembly on March 22, 2023, minister of agriculture, food security and nutrition, Thabo Mofosi promised to increase crop production after his ministry was allocated M567, 394, 199 for the 2023/24 fiscal year.
Mofosi noted that this budget would allow him to increase crop and fruit production in the country during this period.
He further promised that his ministry would continue subsidising seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides at between 70 and 80 percent of their original prices.
“The government is committed to meet farmers halfway in a bid to increase food security in the country,” Mofosi said then.
However, farmers interviewed by this publication painted a different picture.
They said they failed to plough for the summer cropping season due to unavailability of seeds and fertilisers from the ministry.
They claimed that they went to different district agriculture offices since the beginning of the summer cropping season in September/October to buy inputs such as fertilisers, maize seeds, herbicides and pesticides but they came back empty handed.
The farmers also alleged that there was favouritism in acquiring the inputs, with some prominent individuals easily able to buy fertiliser in bulk while they were told the commodity had run out.
The deputy chairperson of Kopanang Lihoai based at Ha-Majara in Leribe district, Arola Molupe, said they went to the department of agriculture at Maputsoe to buy fertiliser without any success.
Kopanang Lihoai is a licensed and certified group of 70 of small-scale farmers who make contributions towards the purchase of fertiliser every farming season.
This year the group contributed money based on the number of bags each household needed, ranging between one and 15.
“We made contributions to buy about 400 bags of fertiliser at Maputsoe but failed. We went there not once, but five times,” Molupe said.
He added that they would leave their homes at 6am hoping to get fertiliser but government officers manning the stores would tell them they had run out and they had to come back another day.
“What surprised us is that we would see some prominent people leaving with fertilisers in bulk, sometimes about 600-bag trucks. Unfortunately, we couldn’t even ask thinking it would make matters worse, especially because we were desperate to get services.
“It is very sad that in this country, if you are poor like us, you will never get services from government departments. You will die poor,” Molupe said.
He indicated that they had to return the members’ contributions because they could not find fertilisers until it was too late for some of them to plant maize.
Other farmers incurred more expenses by travelling all the way to Berea district to buy fertilisers from individuals at double government prices.
“They were as a result forced to reduce the number of bags to buy, meaning less production for them this year,” Molupe noted.
Another farmer from Nazareth, Lefa Mokhatholane, said he failed to plough his fields because he could not find maize seeds at the country’s largest government store at Ha-Foso Maseru.
He pointed out that out of his 12 fields, he managed to plough only two because he could not afford to buy maize seeds from private stores due to high prices.
“Government subsidy was better because a 10 kg bag of fertiliser costs M110 but individual suppliers sell the same bag at M380. That is a huge difference, especially if one has to plough many fields like me.
“I could not afford that amount if I were to plough all my fields. I have been ploughing maize more than any other crops and I’ve never imagined myself buying maize meal. However, I think next year I will be among those who will buy maize meal since I also have people manning my cattle posts,” Mokhatholane said.
Another farmer, Mojapela Mosuoane from Serutle in Botha-Bothe said he had to use animal manure and ashes as fertiliser.
Mosuoane said they went to the ministry at least three times but they were told to come another day when the fertilisers would be available.
However, he indicated that using manure does not work effectively because of drought.
“As you go around the fields, you can see a huge difference between farmers who used modern fertilisers and those that have used animal manure. The maize leaves look different. Those like mine are stunted and pale, not only because of the type of soil in the field, but because we used animal manure. It is not effective like modern fertilisers, not anymore.
“This year is different, it’s a lot more challenging with the shortage of farming inputs and high prices of fertiliser, combined with changing weather patterns. All these threaten our livelihoods; our survival will never be the same gain,” Mosuoane noted.
Approached for comment on the farmers’ claims, senior information officer in the ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition, Lereko Masopha, said he needed to enquire with the said district offices first.
Masopha noted that farmers prefer different types of fertilisers, meaning they could have wanted what was not available in their stores.
He indicated that it could also be possible that there were no fertilisers at all since the ministry had encountered a problem of civil servants looting the commodity for their personal gain.
“This year we had bought more quantities of fertilisers than any other years but we had a challenge of people stealing from the ministry,” Masopha said, pledging to establish from the implicated districts what real inspired.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Lesotho Annual Country Report shows that the food security situation in the country deteriorated in 2022.
It further states that the number of food insecure people will rise due to three consecutive years of drought, the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the global food crisis, heavy rains during the planting season affecting production, and decreased income from livestock and related product sales.
Contacted for comment, Lesotho National Farmers’ Union (LENAFU) president Khotso Lepheana said the issue of unavailability of seeds and fertilisers had not been brought to their attention.
He pointed out that all the union was aware of was that the ministry of agriculture had notified them that they had decentralised the distribution of farming inputs so that farmers do not need to go to the large store at Ha Foso.
“According to what we were told, the subsidy prices were uniform all across the country. I do not know if what we were told was practical, but as a union we have not received any complaints or reports whatsoever,” Lepheana noted.
According to World Bank Lesotho, agriculture is an important source of employment and subsistence in the country, with the majority of Basotho – more than 70 percent – dependent on agriculture for both food and income.
The sector holds the most potential for increasing food security, reducing rural poverty and generating on and off farm jobs.
