2 December 2024 by Monyane Khau

A National University of Lesotho consumer science lecturer, Dr Pulane Nkhabutlane, says Lesotho farmers are having a hard time to reach full potential because government has neglected investment in agricultural value chain.

Dr Nkhabutlane says some farmers struggle to deal with spoiled crops because one important part of the value chain—processing—has been overlooked by the government.

“I remember one day when I was talking to a sorghum farmer who said I have been planting sorghum all these years, but at the end of the day, pests are eating my sorghum is eating my pests,” Dr Nkhabutlane said.

She explained that the farmers did not know how to solve this problem. Dr Nkhabutlane attributed this lack of knowledge to the government’s failure to invest in the agricultural value chain.

Dr Nkhabutlane shared these insights during the 2nd Edition of the Basotho Manufacturers’ Summit in Maseru on November 28, 2024. Click the audio below to hear her presentation.