A team of officials from Trade and Marketing department is currently engaged on food price subsidy campaigns to sensitise the public about the recommended prices.

The campaigns, which are led by the Director of Trade and Marketing commenced in Mokhotlong on Tuesday and will cover the districts of Thaba-Tseka, Botha-Bothe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek and Quthing as well as Qacha's Nek throughout this month.

In an interview, Trade and Marketing Manager, Mr. Mopeli Makoanyane said, while in the districts, the team will rope in Districts Administrators, who will be expected to disseminate information down to the public.

He emphasised that the selected food items include Letsema and Silver Cloud Special Maize Meal from Lesotho Flour Mills and Lesotho Milling Company as well as Maluti Made Dairy products that include both fresh and sour milk.

Mr. Makoanyane also pointed out that speckled sugar beans and peas packed by Crystals and Tasty companies are expected to be sold at reduced prices and not any other items.

He however, pointed out that they face challenges of revising prices on monthly basis considering the rate at which the new prices are increasing.

'We are obliged to revise the prices on monthly basis in order to control the prices of these food items as they increase rapidly.' he stressed.

The Trade and Marketing Manager said, with the initiative, government intends to meet the poor in villages half, considering that severe drought has been ravaging the country, which made previous years harvest poor.

He said government will incur any extra costs from the suppliers as well as wholesalers, which sell the items to public at retail prices.

The government initiative to subsidise selected food items by 20 percent was announced by the then Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing, Mr. Ralechate 'Mokose earlier this month.

The subsidised prices came into effective from October 01 this year until March 31 next year.

Source: LENA 23/10/2007