Event description
Lesotho is experiencing severe drought and food insecurity due to consecutive La Niña and El Niño events from 2021 to 2023. The 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 rain seasons were characterized by mild to moderate La Niña conditions, resulting in excessive rainfall. Average crop production. The 2023/2024 El Niño further worsened the situation with dryness and heatwaves, significantly impacting crop yields. Despite increased planting efforts in 2023/2024, yields remain below average, leading to higher corn prices and increased market dependence. The crisis will worsen over the 2024/2025 season, with an estimated 699,049 people facing food insecurity and 59,549 tonnes of food equivalent to 1,149,302,744 tonnes of LSL (Lesotho Lotti) equivalent. I need it.
The current El Niño phenomenon coincides with the country’s rainy season and the start of the agricultural year, making it difficult to start planting activities for the summer planting season. In mid-December 2023, Lesotho experienced its first heavy rains of the season. While the rain brought much-needed rainfall, it also caused heavy rain and storms, causing waterlogging to some of the crops already planted. The impact of this event was particularly severe in various livelihood zones, with the southern lowlands and Senku River valley being the worst affected.
Crop: Nationwide corn production is down about 52% year-on-year, with current yields expected to last only three months in most regions. This decline has increased food prices and exacerbated food access challenges, especially for vulnerable households. Moreover, production of alternative food products such as sorghum is also down by more than 86 per cent in 2023/24, further deepening food insecurity and making it harder for households to find alternative options. Price shocks: Prices for stable food items remain higher than in previous years, impacting household purchasing power. Maize flour prices rose by 42% from March to May 2024, making it increasingly difficult for poor households to afford essentials and meet other basic needs, according to the latest information from Lesotho Flour Mills. There is. Livestock disease outbreak: From January to March 2024, an outbreak of bluetongue (livestock disease) caused by high temperatures and lack of rainfall significantly impaired livestock health and productivity. This further strained domestic household resources and livelihoods.
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