The much-anticipated Farmers Pitso Agriculture Week, organised by News Day Media and the Seahlolo newspaper in Lesotho, kicked off this week with a discussion on livestock production and how the value chain needs to be monitored at all times.
The event in Maseru, Lesotho, drew farmers, exhibitors, agri-business, policy makers, organised agriculture, government and community members who examined how to make agriculture work for everyone.
In the panel discussion, stakeholders spoke at length not only on the farming aspect but also on a sector shaped by production science, nutrition, animal health, rangelands, extension, economics, finance, risk and the interaction between livestock, people and household wellbeing.
On behalf of the Lesotho ministry, Mabusetsa Makau said the government was willing to work with everyone to ensure that agriculture blossoms.
“As government of Lesotho, we appreciate platforms like this which are meant to allow all of us to be together and discuss issues that concern farmers and the entire community.
“This gathering happens at a challenging time when we encounter food insecurity. I challenge the participants to come up with practical solutions to the challenges we are facing,” he said.
Professor Setsumi Molapo, senior lecturer at the National University of Lesotho, said that as the country relies heavily on imports, including feed, it is critically important to start thinking about sustainable production with the little they have.
Bridging the gap between academic research and farming
“What we have seen being a problem is that we are practising and doing things that are not researched. Hence, our agricultural sector keeps on struggling; we need to invest in research and align with the times.
“It is equally important for us to understand the genetics and what goes into the feed before we can distribute it. This can only be understood if we do research,” he said.
Molapo explained that understanding and adapting to climate change conditions is crucial for the sector to flourish and become a beacon of hope for the rural communities.
“Although many people do not farm to be commercial, an understanding of this is knowing that livestock is a business. But also, to keep farming well, they need to know that there is climate change; there are institutions that can help me move from one level to the other.
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“At the university we are at an advanced stage to develop vaccines for avian influenza and other vaccines. But also we just do not want to hand over the vaccines; we want to simplify it for Basotho to know how best to use it,” Molapo said.
Prioritising animal nutrition and climate resilience
Animal science senior lecturer Motselisi Mahlehla of the National University of Lesotho added that animal nutrition is an important part of livestock production that cannot be left unattended.
“We need to make sure what we feed our animals is the correct thing, so that the produce that the animals produce is of good quality. It is for that reason that our farmers adapt strategies that align with what the nutrition of animals should be.
“For our livestock to flourish, we need to ensure that a balanced diet is implemented for our livestock. Not everything will work, but we need to be aware of what we are doing for longer-term consequences, but my message will be adaptability is key for our farmers to grow,” she said.
Mahlehla said that to increase food production, the livestock value chain must be managed correctly based on research done by institutions like universities and researchers.
Strengthening public-private partnerships
Meanwhile, Mofihli Motsetsero from the ministry of environment in Lesotho said that for the country to move forward and ensure the livestock value chain is taken care of, extraordinary measures are needed.
He said public-private partnerships are a key driver of economic emancipation for not only farmers but the entire Lesotho agricultural community and rural areas.
“We need to make sure that the grass that the livestock eat is of good quality, and this means our communities need to care for the land we are using for the care of everyone.”
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