Makananelo Manamolela
THE renowned Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society (RJAHS) is working with Lesotho to strengthen and transform the country’s dairy industry.
The society yesterday convened the Lesotho Dairy Industry Stakeholder Consultation Seminar under the theme, “Towards a Coordinated and Sustainable Dairy Sector in Lesotho”.
RJAHS is a private, non-profit organisation established in 1833 to promote agriculture, horticulture and rural culture on the Island of Jersey, near the United Kingdom. The organisation has played a key role in the development and global success of the Jersey cow breed and remains responsible for managing and preserving the breed in its homeland.
Officially opening the seminar, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Dr Khothatso Tšooana, described the gathering as an important step towards shaping the future of Lesotho’s dairy industry.
He commended RJAHS for its continued support of agricultural development in the country.
“We value the confidence you have placed in our country and our dairy sector. The dairy industry remains one of the most important agricultural sub-sectors in Lesotho. It has significant potential to contribute to food and nutrition security, create employment opportunities, generate household incomes, reduce dependence on imported dairy products and support rural economic growth,” Dr Tšooana said.
He, however, noted that the industry continues to face several challenges, including limited access to quality breeding services, veterinary support, markets, infrastructure, finance and effective coordination across the dairy value chain.
“These challenges require a coordinated response. This is why the Lesotho Dairy Industry Strategic Review Project is so important. It provides an opportunity for government and stakeholders to work together in developing a national dairy development plan that will guide the future growth and transformation of the sector.”
Dr Tšooana said the objective was not simply to produce another policy document, but to develop a practical and implementable roadmap that would strengthen productivity, improve competitiveness, support farmers, attract investment and create opportunities for women and young people.
He stressed that the success of the initiative would depend on strong partnerships among all stakeholders.
“As government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment that supports growth, investment, innovation and sustainable development within the dairy industry. We also recognise the importance of ensuring that women and young people become active participants in this transformation process. Equally important is the need to build resilience to climate change through sustainable production systems and responsible management of natural resources,” he said.
RJAHS Dairy Development Adviser, Dai Harvey, said the organisation had partnered with the ministry to develop a comprehensive dairy development plan for Lesotho.
“We work collaboratively with governments, non-governmental institutions, producers’ associations and technical partners, and Lesotho is no exception. Milk is a complete food and it is extremely important for countries to produce dairy products locally rather than relying on imports. We began developing this plan in September 2025 and resumed the process in April this year. Today’s consultation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the final plan,” Mr Harvey said.
A consultant engaged in the project, Dr Kuleile Nchele, said milk production in Lesotho had declined significantly, from 5.5 million litres in 2019/20 to about 2.08 million litres in 2026, while imports of long-life milk remained high.
“The country imported about 370 in-calf heifers between 2017 and 2024, highlighting the challenges faced by the sector,” Dr Nchele said.
He added that there are currently only seven milk collection centres supplying the Maseru processing plant.
According to Dr Nchele, major challenges facing the sector include feed shortages, with 74 percent of farmers lacking sufficient fodder and 62 percent reporting frequent shortages. Other constraints include the absence of a structured breeding programme, market limitations, quality concerns and poor coordination among stakeholders.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, Mabelebele Dairy Farm owner and Jersey cattle farmer, ‘Mapaballo Ntobaki of Hleoheng in Leribe, said dairy farming remains a demanding business.
“Due to limited resources, including land for fodder production, we are forced to import many of the inputs needed for our cattle. Dairy production is a complete value chain. It starts with proper animal care, feeding, breeding and health management to ensure both quality and quantity of milk production,” Ms Ntobaki said.
She encouraged young people and women to participate in the dairy industry, saying it offers significant employment and business opportunities.
“For many years, women and young people have overlooked this sector. I encourage them to get involved because it has the potential to create jobs and help address unemployment,” she said.
