brief description
Agronomy section in the Department of Agricultural Research is one of the key sections under Crops Division. Crops’ Division is headed by Chief Research Officer (CRO-Crops), while Agronomy section is headed by Senior Research Officer (SRO-Agronomy). It draws its mandate from the main DAR mandate. The Agronomy functional area is conducting research in cereals improvement, food legumes, oil seeds improvement and potential alternative crops. Agronomy section’s role is to conduct trials/experiments and come up with appropriate technologies that respond to the needs of farmers in addressing their challenges in farming and production as a whole.
Lot of activities within the section have been going on and up to date there are still activities conducted and implemented. For maize and wheat research, the Agronomy section had been and is still collaborating with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). For the past years, Agronomy implemented New Seed Initiative for Southern Africa (NSIMA), and it is through this initiative that maize varieties such as ZM 521, & ZM 523 were developed and disseminated to the farmers. NSIMA project is no longer running, however, its fruits are still being ripped. Nevertheless, collaboration is still continuing in sharing of germplasm.
Agronomy section also collaborates with International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) for legume improvement, especially working with bean research under a project named Southern Africa Bean Research Network (SABREN). It is through the collaboration where the famous NUA 45, pindo nodak and Mkhuzi were developed and have reached the hands of farmers. The project still continues with minimal funding. However, collaboration with CIAT still holds up to date.
Another initiative came up with a project called Dissemination of New Agricultural Technologies in Africa (DONATA). DONATA was intended to help the DAR to disseminate developed agricultural technologies to the farmers. The project operated in two (2) districts of Thaba-Tseka Ha Makunyapane and Mohale’s Hoek Letlapeng. Maize and sorghum were the targeted crop commodities of interest for dissemination by DONATA. The project phased out in 2011.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under Crop improvement, assists and funds the department to establish tissue culture laboratory for the improvement of potatoes in Lesotho. The assistance come in different phases, including issues related to soil and water management. The project still continues.
Lesotho Adaptation of Small-Scale Agricultural Production (LASAP) is one project that was housed and implemented by Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP) in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Research. Most activities implemented were led by Agronomy section. The project run for three (3) years. The project was funded by IFAD. The project aimed at increasing resilience of small scale agriculture to climate change impacts by promoting climate-proofed investments for agriculture-based development, as well as by enhancing the resilience of agricultural productivity under increased climate variability. Crop commodities used for this project included, maize, beans, sorghum, sunflower, potatoes, tomatoes and sweet pepper improved varieties. It operated from Botha-Bothe to Quthing.
Another initiative was with International Centre for Agricultural Research for Dry Areas (ICARDA). The project came about to address wheat production In Lesotho. It worked in the Thaba –Tseka District, focusing on wheat research in the mountains.
