Africa-Press – Lesotho. To enhance smallholder farmers in the country to increase their productivity, Smallholder Agriculture Development Project (SADP II) handed over contracts to
67 farmers located in Thaba-Tseka, Mokhotlong and Qacha’s Nek. SADP
Project Director ‘Malichaba Nkhatho said the farmers were requested to send applications for financial assistance. She said SADP has already worked in the
7 districts located in the lowlands.
“Today will mark our partnership with the
67 farmers from the highlands region,” she said. Nkhatho further said for the longest time young people have showed interest in farming but
did not have time to visit their offices and enquire about their services hence they are also launching a website to make information easily accessible to
farmers. She said through the website, people can now ask questions and get answers immediately, saying it is also intended to cut travelling costs. Nkhatho emphasized that the project has four components being promoting Climate
Smart Agricultural Practices and advisory services, improving Agricultural Commercialization and Nutrition, Project Management, Coordination, Monitoring
and Evaluation and the Contingency Emergency Response Component. Thaba-Tseka District Agricultural Officer (DAO) Makhala Phalatsi said they are excited with
the contracts they will sign. She pleaded with SADP service providers to work corporately and warmly with them and the farmers in their areas. A newly contracted beneficiary ‘Maneo Qhobosheane and the owner of Fortress Farm
Produce PTY (ltd) said her business deals with the breeding of rams. Qhobosheane said on behalf of all the farmers from the three districts, they would like to thank SADP and all stakeholders for ensuring that small farmers
are assisted to grow. The acting Minister of Agriculture, Marketing and Food Security Hon. Likopo Mahase said this is the second project following SADP I which accommodated farmers
from Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea and Mafeteng and later included farmers from Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing. Mahase said the project has been funded by
the World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Japan. SADP II was launched on July 24th 2019 and it was declared effective in August the same year.
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