About 35 000 vulnerable farming households in different districts of the country will benefit from the United Nations Relief Fund to enable them to plant in the 2007/2008 cropping season.

At least M24 million through Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) under the United Nation's (UN)'s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will be used to provide agricultural input trade fairs, which are currently being carried out throughout the country.

The fairs started in the mountain districts of Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka and Qacha's Nek during the period of August 27 to September 07 this year. There after will follow foothills and lowlands, which will be covered up to mid-October 2007.

During the fairs, an estimated 385 tonnes of seeds will be accessed by the farmers, and an estimated 5,600 metric tonnes of maize, sorghum and beans is expected to be produced from the assistance.

The release states that this follows a "Flash Appeal" launch by the United Nations system in Lesotho to assist farmers affected by drought to recover their agricultural productivity.

According to government, 30 percent of the population is estimated to require humanitarian assistance.

It is expected that up to 17,500 hectares of land will be prepared and planted with maize, sorghum and beans.

The release points out that the assistance will be in the form of seeds, fertilisers, basic tools and tillage to enable each household to plant 0.5 hectares during the forthcoming season.

'Focus will be on those affected by drought, have access to land, are willing and able to work on the land and have a history of producing during previous seasons,' it adds.

A series of two-day training sessions on how to conduct seed or input trade fairs for about 200 government officers from all the 10 districts are being held. Upon completion of training, the officers are expected to select beneficiaries and fairs throughout the districts.

Source: LENA 18/09/2007