According to the results of the IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis, about 328,000 people (22% of the population) in rural areas of Lesotho experienced high acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between November and December 2021. Only three districts (Butha – Buthe, Leribe, Mohale’s hoek) out of the analysed were classified in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) while the rest are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) in this period.

From January to March 2022, around 338,000 people (23% of the population) are projected to be in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse), and require humanitarian action to reduce food gaps, protect, restore livelihoods and prevent acute malnutrition. All areas remain in the same phase classification. Although heavy rains destroyed some crops in January 2021, causing waterlogging in some parts of the country, Lesotho registered an improvement in crop production this year due to the good seasonal rainfall performance, after three consecutive years (2018, 2019 & 2020) of poor agriculture production. Crop production is therefore expected to boost the economy to a moderate growth of 2.6%. The increase in crop production also resulted in improved household food access. However, some poorer households across all livelihood zones are already experiencing food consumption gaps during the analysis period, which is normally the lean season in Lesotho. The unfavourable food insecurity status is also as a result of prices of food that remain higher compared to both 2020 and the 5-year average. In the projected period, food prices are expected to remain high.

1. Urgent action is required to save lives, reduce food consumption gaps and protect livelihoods of all vulnerable people in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) to protect livelihoods and reduce food consumption gaps.
2. Provision of winter agricultural inputs to farming households that cannot afford access to inputs.
3. Government to continue with the initiative of local purchase of grains and beans from local producers to promote market opportunities for farmers who have surplus from their own produce.
4. Reduction of food consumption gaps by improving access to food through appropriate modalities.
5. Protection of livelihood assets and production systems through livestock vaccination campaigns and fodder production interventions.
6. Promotion of resilience-building initiatives, such as climate-smart agriculture.
7. Returnee migrants should be prioritised for support to establish alternative livelihoods and should be included in social relief programmes.
8. Development of complementarity programmes (i.e. backyard gardening inputs for poor and very poor households).
9. Food price subsidy intervention should be prioritized.
10. The government to continue implementing agricultural inputs subsidy to include the short seasoned varieties, and ensure supply be on time to facilitate timely planting.
11. The National Strategic Resilience framework should be fully operationalised to ensure that households diversify their livelihoods to withstand future shocks.
12. Intensify nutrition education with more emphasis on feeding practices inclusive of exclusive breastfeeding, and recommended duration of breastfeeding.