Maseru, June 19 — Preparations to finalise plans on how the food grain storage facility, based at Ha Foso will operate are underway, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Chief Information Officer Mr. Lereko Masupha has said.
This he said in an interview with the Agency when commenting on progress towards opening the facility, as farmers have begun delivering and selling their grain produce to the government through the Disaster Management Authority (DMA).
He said the public will be informed once the storage facility becomes operational.
DMA Public Relations Officer Mrs. Mahlape Koali also told the Agency that grain purchased from farmers is currently stored at the Food Management Unit (FMU), as has always been the case.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Thabo Mofosi had earlier indicated that the storage facility, which was handed over to the government by the People’s Republic of China, was among the projects to be implemented, with the M1.1 billion allocated to the Ministry.
He said the facility was expected to be operational after the harvest period and would help create jobs as youth unemployment remains high.
The Agency has learnt that farmers registered with the DMA have already started delivering their grain produce to FMU centres countrywide.
Ends/LP/BM
