Food production in Lesotho and many parts of Southern Africa remains a critical component of national development efforts. For a country like Lesotho to make strides toward the 2030 development agenda, improvement in the agricultural sector is imperative. Farmers who aspire to move from subsistence farming to commercial levels are often eager to learn and adopt new agricultural technologies. They seek information on modern farming methods and, when properly guided, can become the cornerstone of a country’s agricultural improvement.
Mpaphoto Nkhooa during an interview, sharing the difference brought by APPSA’s initiative of Farmer Field Schools in his life
One such farmer, Maphoto Nkhooa, hails from Nkoeng in the Leribe district of southern Lesotho. Nkhooa has been planting maize and sorghum for some time but had never realized good yields until he joined the Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA). Thanks to this program, Nkhooa now confidently plants the same crops but with significantly improved results, producing enough not only to feed his family but also to sell in the market.
“I am now able to produce enough maize to last until the next planting season. Most importantly, I can now support my family financially. I pay my children’s school fees and buy them clothing, something I couldn’t afford before,” Nkhooa shares. He adds that pricing his produce for the market is no longer an issue, thanks to a new technique taught at the FFS. This technique allows them to weigh their produce rather than estimating prices, which was common in the past.
Nkhooa’s learning experience centered on the production of potato varieties, as well as maize and beans. He also experimented with sweet potatoes, and their sales from a small plot brought in M2,000. “That opened our eyes to how profitable this crop can be,” he attests.
Regarding crop treatment, Nkhooa emphasizes that the school taught them to closely monitor their crops from germination to maturity. They treat any detected issues using locally available plants as pesticides. “I have since learned that using plants is safer than chemical insecticides, which can harm plants, humans, and animals,” he concludes.
The Expansion of Farmer Field Schools
The success of the FFS in Nkoeng inspired the formation of another school, as more farmers became interested in the modern agricultural technologies introduced under APPSA. Mamofumotse Molope from Kamohelo FFS in Matlakeng, also in Leribe, shares how the achievements of farmers from Nkoeng piqued their interest.
The exuberant ‘Mamofumotse Molope emphasizes the traits of a good farmer.
“Their potato production story caught our attention immediately, and we couldn’t wait to try the new technologies,” Molope recalls. After experimenting with different potato varieties under various soil treatments, SIFRA proved the most profitable. “The key lesson I’ve learned is that a farmer must always study how the crop behaves under different soil conditions. If challenges arise, they must be addressed immediately, and decisions on treatments must be based on data analysis,” she explains.
Molope has also learned that certain insects can be controlled trapping them in colored containers, while others can be introduced to the farm to curb the spread of harmful insects. This not only reduces the cost of treatments but also makes the process safer and more environmentally friendly.
As FFS gained popularity, another school was established at Ha Khabo, also in Leribe. One of the members, Mohlalefi Mohlalefi, shares how the knowledge he gained from the school shifted his mindset from farming just to feed his family to seeing the potential for making a profit.
“FFS has made me realize that vegetable production has greater potential for making money than maize and sorghum if done properly,” Mohlalefi concludes.
Mohlalefi says he has come to realize his potential for generating income from planting vegetables.
Youth Engagement in Farming
Another participant, Tumisang Mokhelenyane, from Boiphihlelo Temong FFS in Taung, shares how his interest in farming was sparked by the government vehicles frequently visiting his area. “The extension officer gave us all the information and guided us on how we could also start. She convinced us that being hands-on with these new technologies is the best approach,” Mokhelenyane says.
Tumisang Mokhelenyane, from Boiphihlelo Temong Farmer Field School in Taung.
Like many young people who leave home in search of work, Mokhelenyane often did the same. However, he now returns home more frequently to farm, recognizing it as a viable way of life. The new farming methods have encouraged him to spend more time working on the land than he did in the past.
An independent vegetable farmer, Lenkoane Moshoeshoe, decided to get closer to FFS members despite not being an official member himself. He was drawn to their dedication and the success of their efforts.
“I never thought sweet potato production could be a viable business, but now I want to produce it on a larger scale. I also want to produce seedlings to supply farmers in time for the planting season,” Moshoeshoe shares. He notes that most FFS members are elderly and expresses his desire to attract younger people to the school. “My passion is to see youth fully engaged in farming, so they can take the country to a better level of production,” he says.
Moshoeshoe, who also produces cabbage and green peppers, dreams of using the knowledge he gained from the FFS to expand his vegetable production. “Farming has money; we just need to be convinced,” he asserts. He started with 400 cabbages and 400 green peppers and has now increased the number to 2,000 in each category, totaling 4,000 plants.
The extension officer for the area, Mrs. Mamotiki Makoa, explains how she started working with a group that already had some knowledge of maize, bean, and potato varieties. “They needed some guidance, but they already knew a lot about the different varieties. The Field Farmer School is an answer to a challenge we used to have, where we would provide information at public gatherings but couldn’t follow up on whether farmers were actually implementing what they learned. With the current approach, we learn together by doing,” Makoa says. She adds that this method helps them identify challenges early and address them using the new technologies.
Makoa notes that the FFS approach has created confident and resilient farmers, challenging other extension officers to adopt the method for better results. She praises APPSA for providing teaching aids and expertise, which have been instrumental in guiding farmers effectively.
APPSA’s Contribution to Food Security
The Field Farmer School initiative was established by APPSA in 2021 as part of a project called “Drivers of Technology Adoption and Profitability: Dissemination of Improved Technologies of Maize and Beans in Lesotho and Angola.” Under this initiative, farmers are trained in fertilizer and manure application, pest management, harvesting, seed selection, storage, and the cooking of the NUA 45 bean variety.
A 2024 UN report on the food security situation in Lesotho, following a high-level visit in August, revealed that more than 699,000 Basotho are grappling with food insecurity. The report highlights the urgent need for investment in sustainable farming practices and green technologies to enhance the country’s resilience in the agricultural sector.
The FFS approach appears to be equipping farmers with the tools they need to tackle the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions. Nearly 200 farmers have been trained so far, and that number is expected to grow as more schools are established. This gives Lesotho hope for reducing its dependence on neighboring South Africa for food and makes progress toward achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) align with the FFS’s objectives of improving agricultural productivity and building resilience.
As the FFS initiative expands, more farmers across Lesotho are likely to benefit from modern agricultural techniques that increase productivity and sustainability. The success stories of farmers like Maphoto Nkhooa, Mamofumotse Molope, and Lenkoane Moshoeshoe demonstrate the potential of small-scale farmers to transform their livelihoods with the right training and support.
By investing in innovative farming methods and engaging more youth in agriculture, Lesotho is on a path to not only achieving food security but also contributing to broader global development goals. With continued support from APPSA and other stakeholders, the future of farming in Lesotho looks promising.
Farmer Field Schools | APPSA Tackles Food Insecurity in Lesotho
In this video, we explore how the Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA) is addressing food insecurity in Lesotho through the innovative Farmer Field School (FFS) approach. Meet Maphoto Nkhooa, a small-scale farmer from Leribe, and others who have transformed their farming practices thanks to APPSA’s training. By adopting new technologies and modern farming methods, these farmers are now producing enough crops to feed their families, earn income, and share knowledge with other communities.
