Country information
FAO in emergencies app
Search project highlights
Latest Project Highlights
Strengthening of FAO and the Government of Japan actions to mitigate the environmental impact of the refugee crisis24/12/2020
Promoting self-reliant livelihoods of Syrian under Temporary Protection (SuTP) and host communities through provision of skills trainings and productive assets21/12/2020
Support to the Yemen Food Security and Agriculture Cluster15/12/2020
Assistance aux populations vulnérables pour un accès à la terre, à l’eau et aux pratiques de conservation et de gestion des ressources naturelles dans les zones rurales 11/11/2020
Support to drought-affected and food-insecure farming families in agriculture, livestock protection and water infrastructure rehabilitation26/10/2020
Connect with us
Flickr
YouTube
RSS
Emergency response to the El Niño-induced drought in Lesotho
Tags: LESOTHO, SOUTHERN AFRICA, EL NIÑO-LA NIÑA, EL NIÑO 2015/16, DROUGHT, RESPONSE, RESOURCE PARTNERS,
Full title of the project:
Emergency response to the El Niño-induced drought in Lesotho
Contribution:
USD 1 100 000
18/11/2016-30/06/2018
Project code:
UTF /LES/054/LES
Objective:
Improve the food security and resilience of vulnerable households in Lesotho through sustainable livelihood support and complementarities between social protection and agriculture production.
Key partners:
The Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation (MFRSC) and of Social Development (MoSD).
Beneficiaries reached:
10 957 households
Activities implemented:
- Distributed livelihood kits composed of crop seeds (open pollinated varieties [OPV]) and vegetable seeds, as well as other inputs (grazing vetch and shade-nets).
- Trained 4 500 vulnerable households on climate-smart farming techniques, including conservation agriculture and vegetable production (using trench and keyhole plots, intercropping, rotation and cover crops practices).
- Trained extension officers of MAFS on key agronomic practises, including plant protection, management and control of pests and crop diseases and conservation agriculture; and technical officers of MFRSC on rangeland management.
- Distributed 103 veterinary kits (automatic and manual syringes, thermometer, scissors, etc.) and 35 sterilizers, to support the MAFS’ Department of Livestock Services field staff in controlling livestock disease outbreaks.
- Vaccinated 377 673 animals (cats, cattle, dogs, donkeys, goats, horses and sheep) against zoonotic diseases.
Impact:
- Increased the crop production and productivity of 2 075 households through seed distribution and allowed farmers to use part of the seed produced during the following three growing season, through the provision of OPV seeds.
- Increased yields in vegetable production and contributed to the diversification of diets and incomes, through the sale of the surplus of production.
- Supported 8 882 households across ten districts under social protection-related activities, in collaboration with MoSD (promoting and diversifying home gardening techniques, climate-smart farming techniques and nutrition awareness among the poorest farming households).
- Strengthened the capacities of technical officers (MAFS, MRFSC and other departments) on various aspects, such as Integrated Pest and Crop Management and Sustainable Land Management practices.
- Strengthened the capacities of the veterinary field staff to diagnose and treat common diseases that affects the productivity and value of the livestock.
- Reduced livestock mortality through vaccination.
UTF /LES/054/LES