The Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Ms. Moliehi Matabane says aloe is one of the plants available that Basotho can use freely to develop aloe industry to better their lives.

Ms. Matabane made the remarks at the one-day workshop for aloe products producers held in Maseru.
She said there is need for producers of aloe products to work together so that they could produce more aloe products for export to other countries, especially United States (US), where the market is flourishing.
The Principal Secretary therefore urged the participants to properly manage the product (aloe) so that it could be used for the betterment of Basotho’s livelihoods thus contribute towards combating poverty in the country.
“At the end of the workshop, you are expected to come up with clear strategies that will enable you to penetrate US market,” she said.

Sharing same sentiment, representative from Africa Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA), Ms. Phyllis Shearer Jones said it is only when aloe products’ producers in Lesotho are united that they could export aloe products to the US.

“Through your collaboration, you will be able to produce large quantities thereby attract other countries,” she said.

Ms. Jones added that credibility, commitment and competence are key factors that can assist producers to export.

“Together we can come up with unique ideas that can help Lesotho to achieve its goals thus fighting poverty and hunger,” she added.

The one day workshop was organised by the American Embassy Lesotho with the aim to afford producers of aloe products an opportunity to interact with AGOA representatives and to seek ways of exporting aloe products to the United States.

Source: LENA 04/06/2008