By Neo Kolane
The food security situation in Lesotho is likely to worsen later this year when the expected El Nino conditions peak, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has warned.
The adverse conditions are projected to affect the upcoming 2023/24 summer cropping season and lead to a decline in household food access early next year, the organisation further cautions.
It also notes that based on current forecast probabilities and models, there will likely be a rise in food prices during the post-harvest period – September/October.
FEWS NET states that by late 2023, poor households are expected to be in crisis (IPC Phase 3) due to increased market reliance on food purchases and reduced purchasing power as a result of above average food prices.
Poor households in deficit production areas are set to transition to Stressed (IPC Phase 2) from September to November, it adds.
Meteorologists have warned that El Nino, which is the warming of water surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, is expected to come in the next few months.
Commenting on the matter, the chief agricultural information officer of the ministry of agriculture, food security and nutrition, Lereko Masopha said they have been informed that Lesotho will this year receive below normal rainfall as a result of the El Nino.
This will have negative impacts on both animals and vegetation.
He noted that changes in climate had in the past two years led to poor food production across the country.
“We had excessive rains which led to waterlogged fields. Most farmers found it hard to plant crops,” Masopha said.
According to the United Nations, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has worsened food insecurity in poorer nations such as Lesotho due to rising prices.
The global organisation cautioned that some countries could face long-term famines if Ukraine’s exports are not restored to pre-war levels.
According to National University of Lesotho (NUL) agri-business economist, Dr Montoeli Rantlo, livestock farming will likely be affected because herders rely on natural pastures especially in the rural areas.
Rantlo noted that because Lesotho does not use irrigation but relies on the weather, production is set to be low resulting in an increase in food prices due to low supply.
“Relying on imports will come at a higher price. It is known that Lesotho imports 70 percent of its food commodities from South Africa,” he pointed out.
Given the predictions of increased food insecurity in the country, non-governmental organisations such as the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have come on board to offer aid.
LRCS has set aside M8 million to help vulnerable households cope with the drought expected to hit the country next summer.
The pledge, which is part of the relief organisation’s Drought Early Action Protocol (EPA) Project, is in response to the Lesotho Meteorological Services’ (LMS) prediction of the advent of El Nino after the current La Nina phases out.
LRCS projects manager, Sebongile Hlubi, disclosed that 800 people are undergoing training from March until the end of the year.
El Nino is expected to result in normal to below normal rainfall, bringing with it a likelihood of drought which could affect vulnerable households negatively.
Hlubi said upon receiving a seasonal forecast indicating normal to below normal rainfall; the dissemination of early warning messages to 20,560 people from 5,140 households was conducted, to be followed by unconditional cash transfers to 2640 households.
She indicated that the selection of beneficiaries of the cash transfers will be done using the government’s Public Assistance (PA) programmes waiting lists.
The lists contain names of people already assessed as vulnerable by government social workers and not yet in receipt of any cash support due to budget constraints.
“The cash transfer will enable the vulnerable households to buy basic food prior to price increases. Each household will receive M772 per month for two months,” Hlubi noted.
Outlining how farmers will cope with the impending hostile weather, the programmes manager of the Lesotho National Farmers Union (LENAFU), Khotso Lepheana, says in the wake of LMS’ declaration of El Nino, it is now up to the union’s research department to conceptualise and introduce adaptive technologies.
This, he said, needs to be done in alignment with LMS’ sensitisation and awareness campaigns.
“Apart from that, LENAFU has already done research on seeds that are resistant to drought, as well as methods to protect plants from the sun’s heat and preserve soil moisture.
“Irrigation systems should also be put in place to conserve water. “As for rangelands, grazing patterns are key. There are areas with non-permanent water sources, and we encourage farmers to graze
