Maseru, March 16 — The Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition says Lesotho will open borders to a certain extent (50 percent), to allow importation of green smith apples in the country as they are unavailable locally.
Mr. Thabo Mofosi said this in his statement today, Saturday following temporary suspension for importation of these products a few months ago due to high production of these products by local farmers.
However, he mentioned that this move is not meant to close the market for local farmers but to add to the already available products as the government through the Ministry has established that while locally there is a variety of apples in store, the green smith is lacking.
Talking about tomatoes, he said they are being affected negatively due to the high temperatures and heat waves currently being experienced, thus forcing the government to also allow 50 percent importaition to balance the gap.
Minister Mofosi stated that farmers and the nation at large should be aware that this is a step intended to maintain and ensure sustainability, as well as availability of products for customers, adding the market is still open for local farmers as they would be given first preference.
He thanked the society including farmers for having supported government decisions previously by ensuring that the local products, that is tomatoes and apples were sold locally at the time importation was temporarily prohibited.
He urged farmers to continue working together in order to strengthen the agricultural sector by producing enough to fend for farmers and the nation at large.
The Ministry of Agriculture is mandated to spearhead government policies and programmes in relation to securing food among others so as to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country.
