Higher than normal staple prices likely to increase food insecurity during the post-harvest period

Given the anticipated low production this year, many very poor and poor households in Lesotho will continue to rely on market purchases to access food. Normally, main income sources are off-season activities such as construction, house smearing, brewing, etc. However, current income from these activities is below normal because of the shortage of raw materials due to drought and because of reduced labor being offered by  middle and better off households affected by the drought.Given the anticipated low production this year, many very poor and poor households in Lesotho will continue to rely on market purchases to access food. Normally, main income sources are off-season activities such as construction, house smearing, brewing, etc. However, current income from these activities is below normal because of the shortage of raw materials due to drought and because of reduced labor being offered by  middle and better off households affected by the drought.

Staple prices for Lesotho continue to rise due to increased local demand. In addition, staple prices in source markets in South Africa remain higher than the five-year average. Increased local demand and higher source market prices has resulted in prices fluctuating around 35 percent above average. These high food prices and limited labor incomes has resulted in a lack of purchasing power for households. Many households are Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and facing livelihood protection deficits. These outcomes are expected to worsen to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) between June and September.