Maseru, May 29 — Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane says the development of the potato sector is fully aligned with Lesotho’s national development goals and policy frameworks.
Speaking during the second commemoration of the International Day of Potato held under the theme “Where Potatoes Grow, Livelihoods Flourish” Mr. Mochoboroane said government recognises agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction.
He said the National Strategic Development Plan II prioritises commercialisation of agriculture, private sector participation and climate-smart production systems as pathways towards inclusive economic transformation.
Mr. Mochoboroane noted that the ministry continues to implement the National Agricultural Investment Plan, which focuses on market-oriented production, improved productivity, mechanisation, agro-processing and strengthening agricultural value chains.
He added that Lesotho’s participation in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme under the African Union demonstrates the country’s commitment to sustainable agricultural growth, food security and increased investment in agriculture.
The Minister further stated that with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other strategic partners, Lesotho conducted a comprehensive potato value chain analysis which identified both opportunities and challenges within the sector.
He said although domestic demand for potatoes continues to rise, local production remains far below national demand, resulting in continued dependence on imports.
According to Mr. Mochoboroane, Lesotho’s annual potato demand stands at 132,000 metric tonnes, while local production averages only 13,200 metric tonnes per year, representing just 10 percent of the national requirement.
He explained that government plans to increase potato production by 10 percent annually over the next five years in order to gradually meet local demand and allow time for mobilisation of resources.
The Minister also highlighted the shortage of quality seed as one of the major challenges affecting the sector. He said Lesotho has for many years relied heavily on imported potato seed, but significant progress is being made towards establishing a sustainable local seed production system with support from international partners.
Meanwhile, President of the Lesotho Potato Association, Mr. Teboho Lefu, said potato farming plays an important role in food security, employment creation and income generation for many Basotho households.
However, he said farmers continue to face challenges such as climate change, lack of storage facilities, poor transport infrastructure and limited knowledge of modern business record keeping.
Mr. Lefu appealed to government to improve roads and organise more training workshops for farmers using local languages to ensure better understanding.
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