LESOTHO: Programme aims to improve food security and community resistance to shocks

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 17 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - The Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency (C-SAFE) has launched a new programme in Lesotho, aimed at alleviating food insecurity by promoting rural livelihoods and increasing productive assets, the organisation said.

"C-SAFE members World Vision, CARE and Catholic Relief Services will implement a food-for-assets programme in six vulnerable districts. Around 14,500 households will receive food resources through projects designed to restore agricultural productivity and infrastructure, and develop local capacity," Paul Kinuthia, World Vision Lesotho, was quoted as saying in a statement.

'Food-for-assets' is the use of food as an incentive for creating community and household assets. In Lesotho these will include community and household (kitchen) gardens, water harvesting structures and canals, as well as training in conservation farming, erosion control and agro-forestry.

The projects aim to address Lesotho's major obstacles to agricultural production, such as severe soil and land degradation, lack of suitable land and crop husbandry practices, and inefficient use of improved seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. Food-for-assets focuses on establishing these community-owned assets, as well as building skills and improved understanding (so-called 'human assets') to improve household food security, C-SAFE explained.

Last year Lesotho appealed for international assistance after being plagued by drought-related problems, food insecurity and high unemployment. Delayed summer rains have had the most severe impact in the southern region of the country, where 70 percent of arable land has not yet been planted. An adult HIV prevalence rate of 28.9 percent is exacerbating the already precarious situation.

With almost half the 2.1 million population requiring some form of food assistance, the programme, which is funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID), will address the problem of chronic food insecurity and strengthen resilience to future shocks in the most vulnerable communities, C-SAFE noted.

Over the last month 9,948 mt of USAID food, including maize meal, pulses and vegetable oil arrived for distribution to food-for-assets participants, who are now commencing activities.

"In Lesotho it is vital that we invest in a programme that not only meets emergency food aid needs, but simultaneously addresses the problems that underlie those needs," said Patrick Diskin of the USAID Office of Food for Peace. "This programme seeks to do this by using food aid to support projects that will reduce people's vulnerability to food insecurity in the future."

The C-SAFE Lesotho programme will be implemented until September this year.

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