Mathatisi Sebusi

THE government is making meaningful strides in assisting vulnerable households escape poverty and establish sustainable livelihoods.

In partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Dunamis Agri Advisory, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, and Social Development recently trained 40 farmers to become coaches.

These coaches will then support 5,000 beneficiaries of the Economic Inclusion Program (EIP) across community councils in five districts, who are interested in pursuing agribusiness opportunities.

The targeted districts and community councils are Quthing (Tosing) Mohale’s Hoek (Thaba Mokhele) Mafeteng (Metsi Maholo), Berea (Phuthiatsana) and Leribe (Bolahla) respectively.

The coaches concluded a five-day training workshop on Friday, intended to equip them with vital skills in agricultural business management. The training had begun on Monday at the Durham Link in Maseru.

According to Tlelima Phakisi, the Livelihoods Specialist at the Ministry Gender, Youth and Social Development, this initiative is part of the World Bank-funded Pathways to Sustainable Livelihoods Project.

The government, he said, had secured a M202,683,030 (approximately $11 million) loan from the World Bank to improve the effectiveness and fairness of social assistance programs, thereby enhancing the livelihoods of impoverished and vulnerable households.

Mr Phakisi emphasized that the trained coaches would be able to impart their newfound knowledge and skills to the EIP beneficiaries, empowering them to pursue sustainable agribusiness ventures and improve their economic prospects.

The training coined Agribusiness Training Program, targets participants who have chosen agriculture as their primary livelihood.

Through this initiative, beneficiaries would gain practical skills in business management, supported by market research to identify the most viable and profitable agricultural ventures.

“This approach ensures that participants will not only develop sustainable enterprises but also contribute to broader economic growth within their communities,” Mr Phakisi said.

Mr Phakisi further explained that the Economic Inclusion Program (EIP) aimed to reach 5,000 households across rural Lesotho. Studies show that over half of Lesotho’s estimated population of 2.3 million live in rural areas, relying on agriculture for sustenance.

Mr Phakisi said that beneficiaries of the EIP programme would receive entrepreneurial training, financial education, agribusiness skills, and productive grants of M5,000 to support sustainable livelihoods.

The program would be implemented exclusively in rural communities already benefiting from the Child Grants Program and public assistance programs.

After the training, he said, coaches would return to their respective local government councils to help community members (beneficiaries) start agribusinesses from scratch and assist them with market access.

“Each of the 5,000 beneficiaries will receive M5,000 and sign a commitment form, outlining their business plans,” Mr Phakisi said.

“This initiative is part of the Economic Inclusion Program, designed to support the poor communities whom we are working with. We will be working with five councils in Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek, Mafeteng, Berea, and Leribe districts. Hopefully, in the next cohort, we will cover the remaining districts.”

The coaches, Mr Phakisi noted, would continue to provide technical support to beneficiaries after the training, a decision that was influenced by the growing interest in agribusiness among many program participants.

Yalandi Maraisa, an agricultural economist and Dunamis Agri Advisory director, highlighted Lesotho’s rich natural resources and the high potential for agribusiness success.

She emphasized that with proper training and awareness of the country’s resources, coupled with step-by-step guidance, any Mosotho could learn to produce their own food.

“All that is needed is for Basotho to be equipped in the best possible way, so they know when and how to produce their own food using the rich soil and water the country has,” Ms Maraisa said.

Lelahla Mots’eo, a participant being trained as an agriculture coach, shared his personal perspective.

Having grown up in a family that relied solely on farming, he sees agriculture as the only viable option to improve his life.

Mr Mots’eo explained that his council, Metsi-Maholo in Mafeteng district, was a farming community severely affected by climate change.

Many people in the area, he noted, lacked knowledge and guidance on farming, struggling to produce food as a result.

“We love farming. The only thing we need is consistent guidance to ensure we plant the right seeds at the right time,” he said.