Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Lesotho has set its sights on reigniting its agricultural sector and has reached out to Ethiopia, a nation lauded for its recent agricultural revolution, for potential collaboration.
H.E Ntšiuoa Sekete, Lesotho’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, met with Dr. Girma Amente Nono, Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. During the meeting, Ambassador Sekete expressed Lesotho’s keen interest in establishing a bilateral partnership focused on agriculture.
Ethiopia has undergone a significant agricultural transformation in the past five years, implementing initiatives to modernize the sector and achieve self-sufficiency in key areas.
“We’ve prioritized areas like biodiversity, livestock, fisheries, and fruits and vegetables,” explained Dr. Nono. “Recently, we’ve made significant progress in wheat production, and we’re proud to be an exporter now. Our flagship projects, the Livestock Sector Initiative and the Green Legacy Tree Planting Program, aim to build a green economy and combat climate change by planting 50 billion trees.”
Ambassador Sekete acknowledged Ethiopia’s achievements and highlighted Lesotho’s past agricultural prowess. “Over 60 years ago, Lesotho was Africa’s leader in per capita wheat production,” he said. “The Lesotho government is actively exploring ways to recapture that glory.”
He continued, emphasizing Lesotho’s commitment to food security not just for itself but for the entire continent. Lesotho’s King Letsie III currently serves as a champion for both the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the African Union (AU) in their efforts to address food security challenges.
Ambassador Sekete commended Dr. Nono for his leadership and the recognition he received from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his role in transforming Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
The Ethiopian Minister reciprocated the enthusiasm, expressing Ethiopia’s willingness to collaborate with Lesotho. Dr. Nono emphasized the potential for both nations to leverage their abundant water and land resources to achieve food security and improved nutrition, embodying the spirit of “African solutions to African problems.”