Southern Mountains Association for Rural Transformation and Development

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮'𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗸!

Although the world celebrated on May 20th, we continued the festivities on Friday, May 23rd, here in Qacha's Nek!

Join us in raising awareness about the vital role bees play in our ecosystem and how we can help protect them.

Let's keep the buzz going and make a difference together!

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
Working hand in hand with farmers, we were able to collect data with Likoeneng Farmer Field School from Tšenekeng, Likoeneng. After analyzing the data, we will be able to present the results to them despite the fact that they had already made their observations on best practice while harvesting beans.

By collecting and analyzing data, we can identify patterns and trends in productivity; evaluate what worked and what didn’t work. This will help us to make more informed decisions going forward, where we will encourage farmers to adopt the best practices as observed from farmer field school.

We are doing this kind of research along with farmers so that they can also learn through doing the actual work. The farmer led research model/ participatory research, as in FFS, is highly recommended in modern extension methods; as thorough engagement through all stages aid farmers to gain a better understanding of productive farming practices.

𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀

Meet Ha Rasefale Farmer Field School, from Semonkong, Tšenekeng, working under Benefit-sharing Fund cycle 5 of the International Plant Treaty. The FFS had an opportunity to 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵, 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 from their yellow beans last week Tuesday. The field supervisor and field officer demonstrated how to estimate yields and the important parameters to be measured. The data was collected, total yield per treatment was obtained, while further analysis will be conducted at the SMARTD premises.

The FFS compared beans performance under intercropping with maize, kraal manure application, and where there was no manure applied as this is their usual way of planting beans. On one hand, they observed that the yield was high where they used kraal manure. On the other hand, they observed that where there was no manure applied the yield was significantly low, whereas intercropping manifested delayed beans maturity as some of the beans were still green.

This initiative also contributed to their 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 initiative. Through participatory methods, the farmers were able to explore appropriate production conditions and associated farming practices, learn about 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗗)

On the 09th April 2026, SMARTD gathered experts, policymakers - Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Economic and Development Cluster, Government line Ministries - Department of Research, National Gene Bank, FAO, UNDP-SGP-GEF, National University of Lesotho, Lesotho Agricultural College, Hope for Rural Women Assembly, LCN, NGO’s, Development for Peace Education, Farmers, CSO’s, Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL), Chiefs, and stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of seed innovation and regulation in Lesotho. Key issues raised by stakeholders, emphasized the need for improved seed quality, enhanced access and distribution, capacity building, inclusion of Farmer Managed Seed System (FMSS), inclusion of seed development both in the seed policy and in the seed bill to enhance implementation of these legal frameworks to boost agricultural productivity and rural transformation.

Gaps identified within the Lesotho Seed Policy include inadequate seed quality control measures, limited access to quality seeds for smallholder farmers, insufficient capacity for seed production and distribution, weak enforcement of policy regulations, lack of comprehensive seed certification systems, and limited stakeholder coordination. The policy was also seen giving insufficient support towards promoting local seeds but rather imported seeds. These gaps hinder the effective development and dissemination of quality seeds, impacting agricultural productivity and rural development.

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
1. The seed policy should be an independent. It should not belong to one institution.

2. There should be an establishment of Lesotho Agricultural Management Authority (LAMA) as an umbrella body which oversee and coordinate development across agricultural sectors.

3. Participants recommended that Lesotho seed policy be harmonized with SADC legal frameworks.

4. It was recommended that Proper scientific wording and legal terminology be used throughout the policy document.

5. The idea of Preserving and use of plant genetic materials for food and agriculture should be incorporated in seed policy.

6. The seed policy should define and unpack what is seed, and the processes followed to declare a seed as a quality seed.

7. Responsible organ should comply by see to it that the seed policy should be reviewed a very 10 years.

8. SMARTD as an organization to organize report back session to participants.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆
The policy currently leans heavily toward formal, certified seed systems, leaving FMSS under-recognized and under-supported. Reinforcing FMSS requires legal recognition, participatory breeding, decentralized quality assurance, and stronger farmers’ rights protections. This would balance formal and informal systems, enhance resilience, and empower communities.

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴

My name is Lemohang Khasipe from Likoeneng village in the beautiful mountains of Lesotho. I am 23 years old and stay with my mother. As I grew up, I heard stories from my mother, grandparents, uncles, and aunts of all the foods that they used to eat. They talk about sorghums, which were used for making healthy porridge and beer in our community.

For me these were all folktales until we formed the Tšenekeng Farmer Field School with support from SMARTD. The aim was to reintroduce lost plant genetic materials repatriated from community and national genebanks. The FFS has made us learn of the different crop varieties of beans and sorghums. FFSs have become a platform for me to learn from the elderly people in my community and exchange knowledge on cultivating the crop, storage, and consumption.

Without the FFSs, I would not have learnt about the history of these crops and the important nutritional and cultural value they have. We value the interaction and unity this platform has brought to the community, not just in 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 conservation but in strengthening us as a people.

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
The Southern Mountains Association For Rural Transformation and Development cordially invite members of the media to attend the Seed Policy Dialogue on Regulatory issues and Strengthening Seed Production Programs.

This dialogue aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the current regulatory landscapes, address challenges, and explore strategies to enhance seed production systems in Lesotho, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural development and food security.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟬𝟵:𝟬𝟬 - 𝟭𝟲:𝟯𝟬
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗼 (𝗖𝗖𝗟)

All media houses are encouraged to attend and cover this important national event. Your presence and coverage will help raise effective policies and collaborative efforts to strengthen seed systems across the region.

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁:
Communications Officer - Thabiso Makibinyane
+266 5882 3317/ +266 6271 8937
[email protected]

We held a local exchange visit at Semonkong for Tšenekeng Farmer Field Schools, independent associations, and individual farmers. This was a stand to share information and findings from farmer led research under participatory research approach where FFS made a study on seed potato multiplication production using different organic farming practices.

Under the use of organic manure in comparison with synthetic fertilizer). the hypothesis is that seed under kraal manure may be of small of recommended size, while under synthetic fertilizer farmer get table potatoes than seed.

Speaking on behalf of the Tapole ke Letlotlo Association, Mr. Mothibeli Mohlapiso highlighted that he can see the difference between using kraal manure and synthetic fertilizer. “Today I have learned a few things which I did not know how to differentiate: the usage of kraal manure and synthetic fertilizer. I have learned that there is a difference when crops have grown,’ he said.

Mrs. Marethabile Masoetsa from Moriting FFS, Tšenekeng, said after this study they will practice what they learned, and are eager to study about the production maize (staple food) as it does not yield like it used to do before.

These research projects are done by farmers with the assistance of the extension office at the small plots. If the research is successful, farmers can apply what they have learned from small plots to bigger fields.

Community Technology Development Trust/Organisation | CCARDESA | Lesotho Agricultural College | Seahlolo | Rural Self-Help Development Association | Department of Agricultural Research Lesotho | Brot für die Welt | Hon. Thabo Mofosi Minister of Agriculture | International Plant Treaty | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

𝗕𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗼𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗸𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗮𝗶 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴, 𝗧𝘀̌𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗴, 𝗛𝗮 𝗧𝘀𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮
“Serapeng sa pele re qalile ho lema linoa re sa tšela moiteli. Ea ba serapeng sa bobeli ra tšela moiteli empa re bone h**e phapano e teng lipolotong tsena tse peli. Serapeng sa boraro ra tšela poone, linaoa, le moiteli, le teng ntse re bone h**e phapano e teng. Mme ka hona, re entse h**e hosane e be re bone h**e na re tlameha ho etsa joang ha re le masimong a rona,” ho rialo ‘m’e Malieketseng Mokotjo.