Purchase of food grains by the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) will
commence on September 18 at Food Management Units (FMUs)
countrywide.
According to DMA Public Relations Officer Ms. Mahlape Koali, the programme
forms part of the government initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable
households while also assisting farmers by purchasing their produce.

She indicated that due to financial constraints, the Authority will purchase 10
percent of the registered grains from each farmer, saying each farmer who
registered is expected to sell less than 10 bags.

She clarified that only produce from farmers who registered during the
announced registration period will be purchased, adding that one pill of
weevil treatment is expected to be set aside for each bag during the sale.
“Grains are expected to be packaged in clean white or brown bags,” she said,
adding that the grains should be washed in Lesotho by local farmers and
sellers should provide certified proof from their local Chief or an Extension
Officer.

A 50kg bag of yellow maize will be sold for M260, while white maize will cost
M250, sorghum M450, wheat M390, and beans M1,400. Meanwhile, the
Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Matekane, earlier during the handover of
farming equipment, disclosed that the food grains purchased from farmers
will be stored at the new Agricultural Food Storage and Logistics Infrastructure
based at Ha Foso.
The facility was donated to the government of Lesotho by the People’s
Republic of China.