…as country gears up for El Niño
Seithati Motšoeneng
FARMERS have been urged to prepare for the looming El Niño conditions by adjusting planting schedules, improving water management and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices.
The call was made during the Standard Lesotho Bank Agribusiness Drought Proofing Stakeholder Forum held at Maseru Avani yesterday, where experts warned that the anticipated weather conditions could affect crop yields, livestock and water resources.
Head of Programmes at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Lesotho, Mokitinyane Nthimo, said climate warnings needed to be translated into practical action, warning that farmers would be among the most affected by the anticipated changes.
“The most affected people would be farmers as all their means of survival shall be at risk,” Mr Nthimo said.
He said the 2015 El Niño cycle had affected about 60 million people and prompted the United Nations to appeal for US$5 billion in humanitarian assistance.
Mr Nthimo, however, cautioned that mobilising similar resources could prove difficult as the world was currently dealing with other crises, including wars, with countries directing more resources towards defence.
He urged farmers to prepare early rather than wait for drought conditions to take hold.
“Timing is everything. Farmers should not wait until drought conditions start to affect their farms. Instead, they need to act now,” he said.
Mr Nthimo advised farmers to identify optimal planting windows and select seed varieties using reliable climate information.
He also stressed the importance of water management, saying drought resilience could not be achieved without proper management of available water resources.
“We cannot manage drought if we do not manage water. Improving soil moisture retention, harvesting rainwater and investing in irrigation systems are critical as climate patterns shift,” he said.
He further called for the integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific climate information to make early warnings more useful to local communities.
“Grazing land and water sources are already under pressure. We need to ask whether adequate plans are in place to harvest and store water before sources dry up,” Mr Nthimo said.
He also highlighted the importance of healthy soils and the link between water, energy and food security in strengthening the country’s resilience to climate shocks.
Meanwhile, Lesotho Meteorological Services forecaster, Ramolenyane Lethaha, said temperatures could begin rising from the second week of September, although the August-to-October seasonal outlook indicates continued humidity.
Mr Lethaha also pointed to a gap in the way climate information was communicated to farmers.
He said LMS was developing a weather application aimed at simplifying technical climate information and incorporating indigenous knowledge to make forecasts more accessible to farmers.
He explained that El Niño was associated with changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and can result in reduced rainfall and higher temperatures in parts of southern Africa. For Lesotho, the period from November to April is particularly important for agricultural planning.
“Current assessments indicate a 100 percent probability of El Niño. While the event could be strong, it might also be short-lived, with a possible return to La Niña by February. August will be vital for refining rainfall forecasts for the upcoming season,” Mr Lethaha said.
He added that El Niño events were classified as weak, moderate, strong or very strong depending on their intensity.
Agricultural input supplier, Mamatlali Ramoholi, urged farmers to consider short-duration crop varieties as a buffer against expected erratic weather.
Ms Ramoholi said unusual weather patterns could result in prolonged dry spells, making it important for farmers to select varieties capable of reaching maturity within a shorter period.
“Fast-maturing crops allow farmers to complete the harvest before conditions worsen, reducing the risk of crop failure linked to moisture stress,” she said.
She advised farmers to obtain detailed information on the varieties they intend to plant, including their maturity periods, drought tolerance and suitability to local soil conditions.
“Access to accurate seed data is key to making informed planting decisions and securing a successful harvest despite challenging weather,” she said.
Also speaking at the forum, Standard Lesotho Bank Chief Executive, Samuel Seboka, stressed the need for closer cooperation among farmers, government agencies, development partners and financial institutions.
“Farmers require information that is not only accessible but also understandable and actionable,” he said.
“Forecasts should be translated into practical steps that can be implemented on the ground.”
Mr Seboka also highlighted the role of crop insurance in helping farmers manage losses resulting from extreme weather events.
The forum forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience in the agricultural sector against climate variability and potential drought conditions.
