Growing resilience: From home gardens to harvests, farmers in Lesotho rebuild after the floods
In the wake of disaster, smallholder farmers across Lesotho are growing hope, income and resilience, one harvest at a time
Matumelo Mabothotsa shows the crops she has cultivated.
©FAO/Mathabana Kotelo
When heavy rains and flash floods struck Lesotho during the 2021/2022 season, thousands of farmers lost crops, livestock and their livelihoods. To help communities recover, FAO, in partnership with the Government of Lesotho and with funding from the World Bank, launched the “Emergency Livelihood Support and Resilience Building Project”. The initiative reached 73 500 vulnerable farming households across all ten districts, providing vegetable and cereal seeds, fertilizers, irrigation kits and training to restore production, strengthen nutrition and build long-term resilience.
Among those who benefited are Matumelo Mabothotsa, a 50-year-old farmer from Khohlong in Quthing District and Paul Lilemo, a 65-year-old farmer from Ha Mohatlane in Berea. Their experiences reflect the resilience and adaptability of smallholder farmers across Lesotho.
A farmer’s garden feeds her family and inspires the community
In Khohlong, Quthing District, Lesotho, 50yearold subsistence farmer, Matumelo Mabothotsa, has turned a small backyard into a steady source of fresh vegetables, keeping her family fed and earning a modest income from surplus sales. After losing her orchard job in 2012 and facing irregular water supply, she found practical ways to keep the garden productive through dry spells.
At home with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, Matumelo grows green peppers, rape and tomatoes in a compact backyard plot. The produce covers most family meals and she sells the surplus to local shops and neighbours to supplement household income.
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Matumelo Mabothotsa’s banana pit in Quthing District, southern Lesotho. ©FAO/Mathabana Kotelo.
“I use my produce to prepare diverse and nutritious meals,” she says. “The crops from my garden cover most of my family’s nutritional needs.” Apart from essentials like maize meal, cooking oil and salt, Matumelo produces nearly everything her family consumes.
Access to water remains one of the greatest challenges in Khohlong and the greater Quthing area. Although there is a tap in her yard, the water supply is irregular. A simple water tank and drip lines have helped her stretch every drop, keeping vegetables growing even when supply is intermittent.
Mabothotsa is part of 250 smallholder farming households in the Mokhotlong and Quthing districts who benefited from the FAO project. For Matumelo, the package increased yields and the variety of produce at home and provided her with an income through sales.
Beyond the material support, Matumelo credits much of her progress to training from extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture. Having left formal education at primary level, she relies on the guidance of extension officers and local mentors.
“We are trained and guided on seed types, how and when to plant and cultivate the land,” she says. “I depend on these trainings and also guidance from seasoned farmers.”
The training covered practical topics such as seed selection, sowing calendars, soil preparation and pest management. Mabothotsa and other farmers were trained on sustainable farming practices and innovative techniques such as constructing keyhole gardens and banana pits. These methods maximize crop yield on limited space and conserve water.
Mabothotsa is also an active member of the Khohlong nutrition club, which has 21, mostly female, members. The club promotes healthy eating and proper nutrition within the community and she’s eager to apply what she learns. “I’ve been trained in food diversity and nutrition and I use that knowledge to make sure my family eats nutritious food.”
Matumelo’s garden is proof that with simple tools, water-wise techniques and local coaching, small plots can feed families and lift incomes. Through initiatives like this, FAO is supporting Basotho farming households to strengthen local food systems and advance a food-secure future in Lesotho.
How one farmer is sustaining his family and future at the age of 65
At 65, Paul Lilemo is proving that age is no barrier to ambition. A seasoned farmer in Ha Mohatlane, Berea District, with decades of hands-on experience, he is optimistic about the upcoming harvest season, despite delayed rains and crop damage caused by birds earlier in the season.
At home, Paul is the pillar of a busy household. He lives with his wife, their three grandsons and a shepherd who helps manage the livestock. On his land, he has planted beans, maize, sorghum and various vegetables, drawing on a lifetime of practical knowledge. In addition to crops, he rears seven cows and eight sheep which provide draught power, wool, meat and a modest income stream.
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Farmer Paul Lilemo checks the progress of his maize crop under the pilot project. ©FAO/Mathabana Kotelo.
Good harvest means a better life for the Lilemo family. “It’s all connected,” he explains. “When I sell my produce, I buy other food items, clothes, pay school fees for my grandchildren and purchase seeds for the next season.”
A 20-L tin of sorghum can earn him approximately USD 20, while maize sells for around USD 9 per tin. The income sustains the household and allows him to invest back into the farm, hiring a tractor and purchasing seeds to keep the cycle going.
In preparation for the 2024 planting season, Paul was among 1 000 farming households supported through the project. Each household received 20 kg of beans, 20 kg of maize seed and five 50 kg bags of basal fertilizer. Thanks to this support, his maize crop is thriving and shows strong promise for a good harvest.
While Paul is grateful for the input support, he sees a clear need for more training. “We need to learn modern techniques, especially about weather patterns and drought resistant seeds,” he says. “The climate is changing fast and we must be proactive, not reactive.”
This season, he’s aiming for a bigger, steadier harvest and another year of school paid on time.
Rebuilding livelihoods and resilience
Through the project, FAO and partners have helped thousands of Basotho farmers like Matumelo and Paul strengthen their resilience, regain their livelihoods and build a path towards food security. By pairing agricultural inputs with practical training and community support, the project is helping families recover from shocks, adapt to changing climates and sustain their futures.