•As M2 billion is needed to address food security challenges.
•700 000 population reportedly facing food insecurity.
•National maize production decreased by 52%
By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- The El Niño weather pattern has been associated with extreme droughts globally, and Lesotho is not spared. The El Niño phenomenon is threatening people’s ability to sustain their basic needs, such as food, water, and income, potentially leading to hardship.
Farmers face crop failure, water scarcity is increasing in some places, and communities dependent on agriculture become vulnerable to food insecurity. As the drought persists, there are growing concerns about its long-term impact on people, planet and animals.
According to the National Geographic Society, El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterised by the abnormal warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It represents the “warm phase” of a broader system known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In contrast, La Niña, the “cool phase” of ENSO, describes the unusual cooling of surface waters in the same region.
“A number of factors, including soaring food and non-food prices, unemployment rate amongst the youth, high prevalence of HIV, reduction in agricultural production, high levels of poverty, compounds Lesotho’s vulnerability to hazard,” reads the El-Niño Induced Food Security Response Plan and Appeal Statement, 2024 recently released by the Disaster Management Authority (DMA).
It continues: “The current Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Lesotho is driven mainly by dry spells and drought, which have damaged crops in most areas in the country. Crop pests and livestock diseases have further exacerbated the food and nutrition insecurity. As a result of El-Niño induced dry spells in the 2023/24 agricultural season the area planted recorded a decrease of 32% as compared to the 2022/23 agricultural season, leading to the lowest yield since 2018/19.
“Socio-economic shocks, including job losses, reduced opportunities in on-farm and casual labour, price hikes, and high inflation, have significantly reduced household total income and further weakened the already fragile household purchasing powder.”
The El-Niño pattern is also reportedly causing the rainfall deficit across the Southern African Region causing Lesotho and countries like Malawi, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe to declare drought emergencies.
On July 12, the Prime Minister Rt Hon Sam Matekane declared a state of National Food Insecurity Disaster following a drought caused by El Niño, resulting in low crop yields since the 2018/19 farming season.
In May, during its Extra-Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held virtually, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched a $5.5 billion (just over M100 billion) regional humanitarian appeal. This initiative aims to bolster the domestic resources of affected Member States by mobilising national, regional, and international partners to respond to the impacts of El Niño-induced droughts and floods.
According to the report, national maize production in 2024 saw a decline of 52% compared to the previous year’s output. Additionally, the cost of living has surged, with the Minimum Expenditure Basket rising to M3 387.89 per household of four in 2024, up from M2 600 in 2023.
The report also highlights that rural areas are projected to experience a crisis phase or worse (IPC3+) in food insecurity, affecting 403,000 people from October 2024 to March 2025. In urban areas, an assessment of the Economic Capacity of Households to Meet Essential Needs (ECMEN) indicates that 296,049 people will face food insecurity. Overall, the total food-insecure population for the 2024/2025 is estimated at 700,000, translating to 33% of the country’s population.
The country needs M2 billion to address the ongoing challenges including the humanitarian assistance, resilience building programmes and developmental initiatives.
The DMA’s CEO Reatile Elias told journalists in the press conference that the country will have to leverage its partners to mobilise these kind of funds as it only have M1 billion.
Last week, the Lesotho Meteorological Service (LMS) issued a statement on rainfall and temperature outlook where it forecasted that the bulk of the country is likely to receive “below” normal rainfall for the season of October to December 2024 with exception of the southwestern and extreme northern parts where they are expected to receive “normal to above normal” rains during the same period.
“The immediate humanitarian assistance is therefore recommended for households in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) in rural areas and those below the Minimum Expenditure Basket in urban areas. Furthermore, there is a need to support local farmers through local purchases of grains and beans and timely provision of agricultural inputs subsidies with suitable crop varieties to build resilience,” further reads the report.
The report underscored the need to expedite the Intergrated Catchment Management to improve rangelands and protect water sources as well as conducting vaccination campaigns to prevent seasonal livestock diseases.
This publication saw the drying up of the Raleting Dam, which supplies Mafeteng town with water. This highlighted the stark reminder of the ongoing water crisis in dry places such as the south districts including.
As the El Niño-induced drought continues to grip the country and the region, the prospects for a good harvest and water security seemingly diminish with each passing day. This crisis, if not met with timely interventions, will have a severe impact on vulnerable groups, particularly women who bear the burden of water collection and household management.
Also, local businesses, such as car washes, are also struggling to operate, and this further contributes to the economic strain of people who earn their survival through such businesses.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing calls for communities are to harvest rainwater whenever possible and adopt water-saving practices. Lesotho last experienced similar El-Niño pattern in 2015.
Small-scale farmers remains vulnerable, but by practicing climate-resilient farming methods including crop rotation, drought-tolerant crops, and soil moisture conservation have been proven to mitigate some of the risks.
The summer rains have been forecasted to start from the second week of November, later this year.
Climate change has intensified the effects of El Niño, making droughts more frequent and severe.
“It is important to note during the summer season flash floods, thunderstorms, hailstorm, and strong winds are dominant and may lead to damage to property and crops,” cautioned LMS.
The United Nations (UN) and global bodies continue to raise concerns about the need for urgent climate action, particularly for vulnerable nations like Lesotho. Building climate resilience within communities, especially among farmers is key to ensure survival during difficult times.
Recently, Reena Ghelani, the Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator for El Niño and La Niña, along with Andrea Noyes, Head of the Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), conducted a four-day mission to the country. Their visit was to learn first hand and engage with communities impacted by the drought, as well as with government officials, the UN, and civil society partners.
During the mission, Ghelani met with government officials and partners to discuss immediate needs, ongoing relief efforts, and strategies to build long-term resilience against climate shocks. She reportedly visited communities in Qacha’s Nek and Mafeteng to have a sense of the drought’s impact on those places.
Noyes noted that farmers are experiencing crop failures and families are struggling to provide food for their children. She highlighted the importance of the funding in ensuring that people receive adequate food and essential services, while also stressing the urgency for action.
This high-powered delegation consisting of Ghelani, Noyes, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, also reported to the government that the acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator would allocate US$2 million, about M112 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and this funding is intended to support a joint, coordinated humanitarian response.
This moment presents an opportunity to rethink how we manage our resources. The drought in Mafeteng, like many others across the world, is a reminder of the need for collective action against climate change. By adopting sustainable practices and working together, there is hope for recovery and resilience.