Ongoing harvests improve own food access in Lesotho

Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food security outcomes are expected in Lesotho between May and September. This is due to improved food security outcomes mostly contributed by the 2017 harvest which is ongoing.  Most households in Lesotho are in the middle of harvesting their crops. Following last season’s drought, very poor and poor households are increasingly consuming their dry harvest. In addition, in-kind payments for harvesting labor are also contributing to improved food access by very poor and poor households.

For middle and better off households, demand for labor has increased opportunities for poor and very poor households to participate in harvest labor. This has resulted in improved incomes for the very poor and poor households who normally engage in these activities. In addition, the crop selling season has begun which is likely to further improve income access between May and September. These factors are expected to maintain favorable food security outcomes in Lesotho during the projected period. 

Staple food prices continue to decline and are expected to maintain this trend ahead of the anticipated average harvest in Lesotho. Average national production estimates are expected to contribute positively to the improvement in food security in Lesotho between May and September.