By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will today hold a crunch meeting- the 48th Governing Council for small-scale farmers whose future remains at stake amid the United States 90 days aid freeze.
The high-level dialogue on the global fight against hunger and rural poverty as world leaders gather for the 48th Governing Council of the IFAD will be crucial in determining the future of food security in developing nations, particularly in Africa.
IFAD receives funding from member countries including the US.
Among the key speakers at a high-stakes press conference on Wednesday, February 12, will be His Majesty King Letsie III, President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, IFAD President Alvaro Lario, and Indigenous leader Dayana Dokera Domico.
Small-scale farmers in Lesotho play a crucial role in the country’s economy, contributing to food security, employment, and rural livelihoods.
Their agricultural activities support local markets and agribusinesses, fostering economic resilience. IFAD recognises their importance, stating that “small-scale farmers are the backbone of rural economies, yet they often lack access to finance, markets, and technology”.
According to the reports available, wool and mohair play a significant role in Lesotho’s rural economy, accounting for 60% of agricultural exports and supporting more than 25% of the rural population. Lesotho is the second largest mohair producer globally.
Through investing in these farmers IFAD enhances productivity, improves value chains, and promotes agribusiness development.
“Hunger and extreme poverty rates have remained high in recent years and show little sign of receding drastically by 2030. As global alliances, priorities and development financing become more complex and uncertain, and climate change continues to accelerate, tackling agricultural and rural development challenges requires renewed action, strategic focus, and innovative thinking and financial instruments. In January, African leaders adopted the 2025 Kampala Declaration setting the African Union’s agrifood systems strategy for the next 10 years.
“Hunger and poverty are most entrenched in rural areas of developing countries where nearly half of the global population lives. Yet, small-scale farmers produce one third of the world’s food and seventy per cent of the food consumed in low- and middle-income countries. Despite their strategic importance, rural areas suffer from chronic underinvestment,” reads the IFAD statement.
It will be recalled that Lesotho declared a “State of National Food Insecurity Disaster” for hunger crisis as more than 400,000 people in the country are expected to experience crisis levels of acute hunger through March 2025, largely due to a drought that has crippled agricultural production.
King Letsie III, who is also the African Union Nutrition Champion, is expected to present Lesotho’s response to the crisis and highlight the dire need for investment in small-scale farmers, who reportedly produce a third of the world’s food but remain among the most underfunded.
IFAD supports farmers in Lesotho through various initiatives. In January 2024, IFAD and Lesotho signed a financing agreement for the seven-year Wool and Mohair Value-chain Competitiveness Project (WaMCoP). This $72 million, about M1,3 billion project aims to improve the livelihoods of 225,000 small-scale wool and mohair producers by promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and creating private sector jobs.
The project plans to establish a responsible production certification system aligned with global market guidelines, enhancing Lesotho’s competitiveness in the wool and mohair industry.
The project focuses on Mokhotlong, Maseru Rural, Quthing and Thaba Tseka districts, which are said to produce the highest quantities of wool and mohair and have high levels of poverty. It will finally be scaled up to the rest of the country to reach more rural people.
This is expected to build on achievements made by the Wool and Mohair Promotion Project (WAMPP).
In August 2024, IFAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lesotho in unlocking the potential of its agricultural sector and enhancing food and nutrition security. Donal Brown, IFAD’s Associate Vice-President for Programme Management, emphasised the importance of collaborating with the government and the private sector to create a more resilient and sustainable food system benefiting all Basotho.
During his visit, a $25 million approximately M463 million investment in the Regeneration Opportunities Fund (ROF), a sustainable financing mechanism for land regeneration, was announced.
Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD, will share his strategy to direct financing to rural areas, a task made more difficult by shifting global priorities and the aid freeze. With nearly 70% of food in low- and middle-income countries coming from smallholder farmers, underinvestment in rural areas could further exacerbate food insecurity in fragile regions.
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone will also provide insights into his country’s journey from fragility to prosperity and stress the need for self-determination and cooperation in Africa’s development.
Dayana Dokera Domico, a Colombian Indigenous leader, who will advocate for community-driven solutions to hunger, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.
This meeting follows the adoption of the 2025 Kampala Declaration, setting the African Union’s agrifood systems strategy for the next decade. Discussions in Rome will shape input into major global summits, including the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, the G7 and G20 meetings, and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
With rural food producers at the frontline of the climate and economic crisis, IFAD’s 48th Governing Council will be a defining moment in the fight against hunger and poverty. Whether global leaders can mobilise the necessary investments to sustain the world’s most vulnerable communities including in Lesotho remains to be seen.