By Neo Kolane
Potato farmers in Matelile are looking forward to harvesting between 48,000 and 66,000 10kg bags of potatoes by the end of June.
The food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working collaboratively with LENAFU and PLA to promote potato production in Lesotho.
FAO contributed 160 tons of potato seeds to the partnership which were distributed in February 2021 to 400 potato farmers in Semonkong, Nyakosoba, Moitšupeli and Matelile.
A Matelile farmer who is a member of the Potato Lesotho Association (PLA), Mapula Makara, says 81 acres of land was used to plant the potatoes.
Makara said the block farming model was adopted, consisting of fields belonging to PLA members and a few hired from non-members.
Majara stated that 1660 25kg bags of seed were delivered on January 22 2021.
“However, 600 bags of fertilizer were delivered on February 6, 2021.
“We met challenges like late delivery of seeds and fertilizer and that is likely to impact on projected harvests. We were also slow to complete the planting because we did everything manually,” she concluded.
