The project is strengthening the capacity of smallholder producers to commercialize and diversify their production of fresh fruit and vegetables for both domestic and export markets, in order to contribute to Lesotho’s sustainable economic growth, employment, food security, nutrition and poverty alleviation. The project targets farmer groups, youth, women and individual smallholder farmers who have basic resources and the motivation to improve their agricultural productivity and diversify into market‑oriented agriculture. Since June 2015, the project has progressively re‑oriented its activities away from greenhouses (productivity), into the second phase of addressing market development (trade development).

 Results

• 216 farmers were trained in 2015 on greenhouse‑protected farming production and plant care. A total of 572 farmers have been trained since the beginning of the project.
• 26 greenhouse technology packages were installed in 2015, bringing the total number of installed packages to 85. 
• Harvesting of spinach, lettuce cabbage, and kale from greenhouses and hail nets began in March 2015, and the produce was sold to hotels, schools, supermarkets and communities.
• The Department of Standards and Quality Assurance was trained on how to use inspection equipment in February and March 2015.
• A packaging training/workshop was completed in October 2015 to build the capacity of a group of 18 trainers and advisors on packaging and labelling.
• Alosang Enterprise and Lebahofa Cooperative were provided with GS1 barcode numbers to facilitate the implementation of a pilot traceability system in the second half of 2015. These two producer groups have been identified for further consolidation of their activities to transform them into the Export Production Cooperatives.
• A Market Centre for agro products will be available in 2016 to help link cooperatives with domestic and international markets. It will also serve as a point for collection, packaging and distribution of the fresh produce from greenhouses, and mushrooms that are produced in Lesotho.
• The Commercial Centre will also function as an intermediary to assist these farmers to have a “footprint” in the banking sector, which is particularly important as access to credit has been a constraint for many SMEs.
• ITC experts will assist on devising a suitable syllabus for a packaging course at the National University of Lesotho that would be compulsory for undergraduate students specializing in crop science, animal science, dairy science and consumer science.