Berea __ As Berea observes August as the Food Month, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN) has encouraged farmers to embark on summer cropping in order to win the battle against poverty.

MAFSN Principal Secretary (PS) Mr. Thabo Moleko made the remarks during the market day staged at Teyateyaneng and celebrated under the theme, “Breaking the pots of hunger from zero to granary”.

Mr. Moleko said although the country is faced with extreme poverty which has forced the Prime Minister to declare the state of food insecurity, however there is a need to join forces by going to the fields.

He said through this initiative of introducing market day’s countrywide or visiting farmers and producers at all sectors of production, they are trying to encourage them to reconsider the usage of sustainable ways of producing crops even under the challenges of climate change.

“Lesotho used to be self-reliant when it comes to crop production and as a result there is a need to revive that farming spirit in order to become food secure and win the battle against malnutrition” he said.

PS added that they are fully convinced that Basotho farmers are capable of producing, therefore their ministry is fully committed to give them all necessary either by ensuring that their produce is well known at the international markets or it meets the required market standards.

Berea District Agricultural Officer Mrs. Monica Hawkins said for quite a long time, August was known as the perfect period for Basotho to embark on the agricultural season, therefore efforts to observe the market day were meant to boost the morale of farmers prior to summer cropping.

Mrs. Hawkins stressed that market day is also significant as it unites farmers to their market or even the consumers so that they can network and discuss strategies that can help them to meet the market demand.

Representing the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), Mrs. Maleshoane Maqelepo from World Vision said to master the art of healthy eating campaign start at the agricultural fields with crops production in order to ensure that children have access to healthy diet.

Mrs. Maqelepo said it is unfortunate that lately land encroachment is taking place more on the land allocated for agriculture which is now converted into residential places and as a result food security is suffering.

She said World Vision has launched the campaign entitled, “Ending Hunger, enough” and this implies that every individual should take a responsibility in promoting production of food either at household level or at the agricultural fields.  

One of the farmers, Mrs. Mamoratuoa Nts’ekhe said although they are committed to promote food security, access to land still remains a critical challenge to women due to harmful cultural practices whereby men have inherited the land.

Mrs. Nts’ekhe said agriculture is the source of life and she further urged women to unite and venture into crop production in order to promote healthy eating campaigns in communities.

She said although they do produce, limited access to penetrate the market is a challenge due to lack of standards, therefore they urge the Marketing Department to fast track their process of initiating the standards and certification of products so that they can sell to the international market.

Berea market day was graced by farmers, business community, and people from different sectors of production, banking and insurance companies.