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FOOD SHORTAGES IN LESOTHO:
THE FACTS
A second year of severe weather has left
some 444,800 people requiring emergency food aid. The government declared
a state of famine in April.
- Lesotho has suffered severe weather variability for the
second year in a row, including heavy rainfall, frost, hailstorms
and tornadoes. This is affecting crops at planting and critical
development stages.
Heavy rain last October / November delayed or prevented planting
in many areas; frost in March curtailed the end of the growing
season.
- Agriculture in Lesotho faces a catastrophic future:
crop production is declining and could cease altogether over large
tracts of the country if steps are not taken to reverse soil erosion,
degradation and the decline in soil fertility.
In the mid-1970s, average maize and sorghum yields were about
1400 kg/hectare, but they now average 450-550 kg/ha.
- Cereal production estimated at 53,800 tonnes, 33% lower
than last year's already reduced total.
Agriculture faces
a catastrophic future; crop production is declining and
could cease altogether over large tracts of Lesotho if
steps are not taken
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| FAO/WFP
crop and food supply assessment mission, May 2002 |
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Domestic cereal supply is estimated at 74,000 tonnes, against
a national consumption of 412,000 tonnes.
The gap of 338,000 tonnes will be covered by an estimated 191,000
tonnes of commercial imports and food aid of 147,000 tonnes from
June to June, until the next harvest.
- Total cropped area was 60 percent of area in normal years,
partly due to heavy, widespread rains during land preparation
and planting period. When the optimum planting date for maize
and sorghum was missed, farmers decided not to plant at all.
- At the peak of the crisis, an estimated 444,800 people will
require emergency food aid, particularly in the hardest hit
districts of Quacha's Nek, Quthing and Mohale's Hoek.
- Government reaction: in April, a state of famine was declared.
The Government has already allocated 5,400 metric tonnes of maize
for distribution to the most vulnerable. A 20 percent subsidy
on unsifted maize meal is being undertaken through normal market
channels.
| Lesotho
food security: background |
- The Kingdom of Lesotho is a landlocked, rugged,
mountainous country, completely surrounded by South Africa.
Its mountain areas suffer the greatest food insecurity and
the highest levels of vulnerability
- There are no shortage of food products in the markets
- just purchasing power problems
Even in years of reasonable harvest and stable prices, some
two-thirds of households are estimated to live below the
poverty line and nearly half are classified as destitute
The recent dramatic food price increases has pushed
a greater proportion of people below the poverty line, and
worsened the situation of those who were already struggling
- Lesotho is a net importer of maize, wheat, pulses,
dairy products etc
Typically, about half of the food consumed is imported (for
maize, imports are 60-65% of national requirements. Except
for wheat, imports come mainly from South Africa.
- Inflation has increased, largely attributable to
higher food prices caused by domestic and regional food
shortages, increasing oil prices and the depreciation of
the South African rand.
- Prices for bread and cereal rose by 14% between Jan and
Feb 2002. An 80 kg bag of maize has almost doubled since
June 2001
- Agriculture accounts for less than 10% of income. Although
insufficient to meet all food needs, agriculture provides
a vital supplement to other food sources as well as employment
opportunities
- A crisis in agricultural production reduces employment
and cash opportunities, while forcing people to turn
to the market for more of their food needs, at a time when
market prices are very high
- Average unemployment rate is about 30 percent,
but higher in rural areas
The economy is only able to absorb about one-third of people
entering the workforce every year
Unemployment is exacerbated by continuing retrenchment of
Basotho workers from South African mines; in the last 10
years, the number of Basotho working in South Africa has
declined by about half
- People, particularly in the foothills and mountain areas,
are surviving through bartering, home brewing, selling livestock,
reducing meals and taking children out of school.
- As purchasing power has fallen, certain families
are facing acute food shortage, taking one meal a day if
at all
In some areas, it is reported that the food shortage is
beginning to claim lives and malnutrition is worsening among
children and pregnant mothers
- The majority of rural households (some 80% or more) own
livestock, mainly cattle, sheep and goats. Many also have
a horse, 2 or more donkeys and chickens
Livestock theft has become a major problem which
is getting worse and more dangerous - loss of livestock
has a serious negative effect on household food security
livestock are a vital source of cash for food purchase which
crop production is low. Also important for draught power
for cultivation.
- People infected with HIV/AIDS are also forced to
reduce food intake when in fact they should be increasing
their energy intake (plus 10-15%) and place particular emphasis
on consumption of protein (plus 50%) and micronutrient rich
foods
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Hunger timetable:
Lesotho |
| Period
(2002-2003) |
People in need of
food aid |
| June-Aug 02 |
80,400 |
| Sept-Nov 02 |
234,800 |
Dec 02-
Mar 03 |
444,800 |
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Total
food aid needed:
68,955 metric tonnes |
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