Maseru, Jan.29 — Farmers from different sectors have called on relevant stakeholders including the government to address challenges that affect commercial farming.
This they said during a one day stakeholders forum which was organized by the Portfolio Committee on Economic and Development Cluster held in Maseru on Thursday, with the objective to create a platform for stakeholders to share views on how farming can be commercialized.
Speaking at the forum, Lesotho National Farmers Union (LENAFU) President Mr. Khotso Lepheana said inaccessibility to adequate natural resources such as water and land as well as lack of aggregation structures in some districts for vegetables, eggs and milk are some of the challenges that hinder progress in commercial farming.
He added that lack of accredited abattoirs for meat processing and national policies on food standards from primary production, processing and retailing are other challenges that affect commercial farming.
He further said there is need for re-agro ecological zoning to repurpose the National Subsidy Program in terms of large scale fodder production, storage infrastructure and processing facilities.
On the other hand Mr. Mpho Sekonyela from block farming said although there is limited land for cropping, farmers should refrain from depending entirely on the government and advised them to buy agricultural equipment as it is also a business opportunity. . .
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