"The UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reaffirms its commitment to supporting Lesotho in unlocking the potential of its agricultural sector as well as enhancing food and nutrition security," said Donal Brown, IFAD's Associate Vice-President for Programme Management Department.
Invited by His Majesty King Letsie III, Donal Brown visited the country to explore new avenues for deepening collaboration on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Basotho nation. "By working closely with the government and the private sector, we can create a more resilient and sustainable food system that benefits all Basotho," said Donal Brown.
"We remain committed to supporting Lesotho through innovative approaches, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. By investing in small-scale farmers and rural communities, IFAD aims to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future for the country," added Donal Brown.
Although endowed with abundant natural resources, Lesotho faces significant hurdles to develop its primary sector. Land degradation, soil erosion, and water scarcity are being compounded by climate change. These challenges disproportionately impact rural communities, with 66% of households relying on natural resources that are progressively deteriorating.
During his visit, Donal Brown met with His Majesty King Letsie III, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane and key ministers to discuss strategies for boosting agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods, and reducing poverty. IFAD and the Government of Lesotho also announced a US$ 25 million investment in Regeneration Opportunities Fund (ROF), a sustainable financing mechanism for land regeneration.
Together with Qu Dongyu, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Director-General and Valerie Guarnieri, World Food Programme (WFP) Assistant Executive Director for Programme and Policy Development, His Majesty King Letsie III took Rome-based Agencies representatives to Mahobong Fruits Farm in Leribe. The field visit provided the representatives insights into the country's potential to commercialise agriculture, a key element of their National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).
Donal Brown also participated in a high-level dialogue on food systems, where he discussed innovative financing approaches to transforming food systems.
Since 1980 IFAD and partners have invested US$311 million in 12 rural development programmes and projects in the Kingdom of Lesotho benefiting 339,720 rural households. These initiatives have contributed to increase agricultural production, improve access to markets, and enhance resilience to climate change.
