Lesotho

Across much of the country, access to green harvest, main beans, and potato harvest is improving food security outcomes as households begin to access their own produced food and earn some income from selling beans and potatoes,  thereby supporting Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes. Further improvements are expected in May as households begin to access the main maize and sorghum harvest while accessing income from crop sales. Despite expected below-average production due to reduced cropped area and limited access to seeds and fertilizer, own crop production is expected to last households four to five months.

Household access to income is improving as harvesting activities begin, providing labor opportunities to poor households.  Most farmers are harvesting field beans and potatoes in the Lowlands, while summer wheat is being harvested in the highlands. Labor wages for wheat harvesting are near normal. Overall, harvesting labor opportunities are below average due to lower-than-average planted areas, ultimately leading to below-average production. As a result, households are engaged in off-farm livelihood activities like handicrafts making and local brewing. Income-earning opportunities are generally below normal owing to reduced economic and low tourism activities. 

Maize market supplies are below average as the main maize and sorghum harvest is yet to start. However, demand for maize has reduced as households access green crops from their fields. Nonetheless, prices of most food commodities remain higher than average. For example, the price of maize meal increased by 16 percent yearly in Maseru while at the same time remaining above the five-year average by 34 percent. The price of wheat flour increased by 16 percent yearly and 49 percent above the five-year average, while sunflower oil prices were 30 percent above the previous year’s prices and 78 percent above the five-year average.