LESOTHO, SA PLAN WAY FORWARD IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

 
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in Lesotho, Dr. Rakoro Phororo held a bilateral meeting with his South African counterpart, Minister Thoko Didiza to reaffirm the commitment of both countries in facing the challenges confronting the agricultural sector.

The meeting, which was also attended by  important officers from different departments of Agriculture from South Africa and Lesotho, took place at Lesotho Sun on Monday. The two Agriculture ministers discussed  issues pertaining to  the impact of cross-border problems on agricultural production, animal health and plant protection, poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS in Agricultural Sector. Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Phororo indicated that both South Africa and Lesotho have to work together to solve the problem of stock theft since it seems to be pulling down livestock industry in the two countries to its knees. When addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Phororo  pointed out that HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused  severe poverty in the SADC countries and Lesotho and South Africa should make efforts to map out a cooperation plan to contain the disease.

Speaking at the same occasion, the South African Agriculture Minister, Thoko Dikiza showed that she welcomes the idea of working together to improve the  agricultural sector in the two countries, and promised that South Africa is ready to assist Lesotho to improve in agriculture. Minister Dikiza further explained that South Africa would like to share some of its agricultural inputs with Lesotho. Meanwhile, the two ministers explained that this meeting is very important since it is meant to re-establish the existing cooperation between the two countries as far as agricultural sector is concerned.

23 September 2003