Lesotho

Remotely monitored country
Lesotho
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Remote Monitoring Report
October 2023
Elevated food prices drive Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes
  • Following a near-average national harvest in 2023, markets are well supplied with maize meal at the start of the lean season. However, market prices remain higher than last year and the five-year average. The high prices are likely impacting household purchasing power. Staple food prices will likely remain high through the lean season as market demand increases food prices amid high transportation costs. However, vegetable production and the good winter wheat harvest are expected to support household access to food and income in December and January. Nevertheless, very poor and poor households will likely be Stressed (IPC Phase 2) through the scenario period as high food prices limit their access to their non-food needs. 
  • Wheat harvesting is ongoing under favorable conditions, and the season will conclude in November and December. Planting of main season cereals is also beginning, and initial conditions are favorable. There was an effective start to the rainy season in mid-to-late October across much of the country, but there is yet to be an effective start to the rainy season in most of the agriculturally productive areas of southwestern Mafeteng, southern Mohale's Hoek, and the western edges of Maseru and Berea. The Ministry of Agriculture bought fertilizer and seeds to offer at reduced prices for the 2023/24 farming season, which is expected to boost farming activities and income for the start of planting. Cumulative rainfall at the end of October ranged from 60 to 110 percent of the 40-year average across the country, but early season deficits are highest in the high-production lowlands where there is yet to be an effective start to the rainy season. 
  • Most households are preparing land and beginning to plant for the 2023/24 agricultural season, providing agricultural labor opportunities for poor households following an effective start to the season across much of the country. However, the El Niño is expected to lead to lower-than-normal agricultural labor opportunities as better-off households plant less land than normal to save their seed and minimize potential losses. The Lesotho Meteorological Services (LMS) anticipates that El Niño will result in drier conditions, including a late onset of rainfall and warmer than normal conditions across the country during the October to December 2023 period, and this will likely continue through much of the agricultural season. 
  • The September annual inflation rate increased to 5.8 percent from 5.2 percent in August. Prices increased mainly for Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages (2.1 ppt), Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (1.6 ppt), and Housing, Water, Electricity, and Gas (0.7 ppt). The annual headline inflation rate increase was moderated by an 8.2 percent reduction in the cost of passenger transport services and a 14.2 percent reduction for restaurants and cafes. However, the cost of food in Lesotho remains 6.2 percent higher than last year, which is likely continuing to impact household purchasing power. 
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Food Security
Key Message Update Food prices remain high with the start of the lean season approaching Lesotho September 2023
Remote Monitoring Report Increasing concern for start of 2023/24 rainy season associated with El Niño conditions Lesotho August 2023
Key Message Update High maize meal prices likely impact household purchasing power Lesotho July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa October 1, 2023
Price Watch February 2023 Global Price Watch Global February 28, 2023
Price Watch January 2023 Global Price Watch Global January 31, 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Strong El Niño will drive high needs across Southern Africa through early 2025 Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Food Security
Key Message Update Food prices remain high with the start of the lean season approaching Lesotho September 2023
Remote Monitoring Report Increasing concern for start of 2023/24 rainy season associated with El Niño conditions Lesotho August 2023
Key Message Update High maize meal prices likely impact household purchasing power Lesotho July 2023
Agroclimatology
Global Weather Hazards Flooding spreads into southeastern Africa, while parts of southern Africa remain abnormally dry Global February 17, 2023 - February 23, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Global Weather Hazards Southern Africa experiences flooding, while abnormal dryness continues in Eastern Africa Global February 10, 2023 - February 16, 2023
Markets & Trade
Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook Southern Africa October 1, 2023
Price Watch February 2023 Global Price Watch Global February 28, 2023
Price Watch January 2023 Global Price Watch Global January 31, 2023
Alerts / Special Reports
Alert Strong El Niño will drive high needs across Southern Africa through early 2025 Southern Africa November 8, 2023
Food Security Classification Data View all Lesotho classification data
Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification (February 2022 - September 2022)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (February 2022 - May 2022) and medium term (June 2022 - September 2022) periods.

Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile February 2022 (.zip) (ZIP) Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification February 2022 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: February 2022 - May 2022 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2022 - September 2022 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: February 2022 - May 2022 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2022 - September 2022 (.kml) (KML) Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification (January 2023 - May 2023)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (January 2023) and medium term (February 2023 - May 2023) periods.

Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile January 2023 (.zip) (ZIP) Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification January 2023 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: January 2023 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: February 2023 - May 2023 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: January 2023 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: February 2023 - May 2023 (.kml) (KML) Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification (April 2021 - September 2021)

Forward-looking analysis representing the most likely food security outcomes for the near term (April 2021 - May 2021) and medium term (June 2021 - September 2021) periods.

Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification Shapefile April 2021 (.zip) (ZIP) Lesotho Acute Food Insecurity Classification April 2021 (.geojson) (GeoJSON) Near Term Projection: April 2021 - May 2021 (.png) (PNG) Medium Term Projection: June 2021 - September 2021 (.png) (PNG) Near Term Projection: April 2021 - May 2021 (.kml) (KML) Medium Term Projection: June 2021 - September 2021 (.kml) (KML)
Seasonal Calendar Seasonal Calendar

The Seasonal Calendar shows the annual and cyclical patterns of key food and income sources in a country throughout the typical year.
Lesotho Seasonal Calendar
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