By Neo Kolane
Non-governmental organisation, Limomonane Trust held its third annual Green Fest in Mafeteng over the past weekend.
Green Fest is a free event that celebrates the Basotho new year. It showcases talent and innovations in the green economy space as well as capacitates farmers and young innovators with skills.
It also engages learners in schools, educates communities on conservation and regenerative agriculture using indigenous knowledge systems and locally sourced materials as well as benefits of planting trees.
The annual event which is in its third year has also attracted 110 green entrepreneurs and 50 fresh produce farmers.
It has attracted about 500 participants over the three years.
Financial sustainability and partnerships officer Liteboho Semoko said the two-day event that was held at the Limomonane Farm at Ha Raliemere in the Mafeteng district on Saturday and Sunday started off with a high-level handover ceremony.
The Embassy of the Republic of South Korea handed over equipment donated to Limomonane Trust to advance its work in the fight against climate change through planting trees.
Semoko said Ambassador Chull Joo Park was inspired by the work Limomonane Trust is doing through one of its flagship initiatives called #10KTrees where the organisation raises funds to plant, initially 100,000 trees.
“However, the stakes just went up and the ambition is to plant one million trees around the country in the next three years. This ambition is backed by Vodacom Lesotho who has been a partner to this initiative since the beginning and we call upon other corporates to join in the movement and fight against climate change,” she noted.
Limomonane Trust is known for engaging with local artists and musicians for entertainment at the Green Fest for promotion and appreciation of local talent. Some, like the highly acclaimed Afro jazz singer and composer, Mookho Moqhali ,and a band called Sotho Sounds which are based in Malealea and have travelled the world singing about the environment and also used recycled materials to make their instruments, performed.
Semoko said farmers were provided with stalls to sell their produce.
There was also a business park where financial institutions, investors and stakeholders networked and showcased their products that are available for farmers to scale up their businesses.
Farmers also had an opportunity to pitch their businesses to investors during the event.
The Green Fest urged businesses, international organisations and civil society to adopt a school where, in partnership, orchards and gardens are started towards Zero Hunger and Climate Change.
Limomonane Trust is an environmental non-governmental organisation that focuses on community-based ecosystem restoration projects such agroforestry, spreading awareness and activating people to become environmental stewards.
The trust also focuses on capacity building on conservation agriculture to contribute towards food security and climate action through tree planting.
