Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Tefo Mapesela addressed the media on the country’s preparation for winter cropping. He said the previous summer
season was challenged by harsh conditions, particularly heavy rains that were experienced in December and January. He stated that those affected summer
cropping enormously since some of the fields were eroded and that resulted into poor harvest for most farmers. Mapesela said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security urges farmers to prepare for cropping by planting
fields and bringing seeds and fertilisers so that they can plant wheat and peas on time. He extended that it has been discovered that heavy rain falls are lately
experienced in December and January, therefore farmers are advised to plant on time so that they harvest wheat in August. Mapesela explained that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has
collected seeds and fertilizers for winter cropping and indicated how they will cooperate. “My ministry will sell seeds (wheat and peas) and fertilizers at 60%
discount. Farmers will buy these items directly and letters of proof or indicating the length of their lands or fields will be made in their respective
districts at agriculture offices,” Mapesela said. He added that the buying of seeds and fertilizers will start on April 06th and all farmers are expected to buy enough quantity for their fields.
Mapesela also indicated that due to the advent of Covid-19, the government of Lesotho realised that most of the farmers were not able to go to the fields and the country’s economy was
affected brutally. He stated that the cabinet decided to subsidies wheat and peas. “The subsidy will be 50% for famers who have partnered to plant fields in
one area or land of 25 acres and above. These farmers will pay half of the cost of seeding machinery and the remaining half will be paid by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Security,” he stated. He further noted that the field’s documents are expected to be certified by the chief and the community councillor
as proof that such a field exist and will be submitted when claiming the money. He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security urges Basotho to get involved in cropping as to collect enough food to fight poverty in these times of Covid-19.
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