Mathatisi Sebusi / Hopolang Mokhopi
THE wool and mohair sector has heaved a sigh of relief after the government promised not to suspend wool and mohair exports.
Last week the government announced it was considering suspending the imports and export of all animal products as part of measures to contain foot-and-mouth disease which has been reported in neighbouring South Africa.
Had the export of these fabrics been halted, the sector stood to lose more than M800 million in revenue during this shearing season, an amount the economy usually generates from wool and mohair sales.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times yesterday, Mokhotlong principal breeder, Khotsang Moshoeshoe, said stakeholders recently met with government officials who assured them that only imports would be paused and not exports.
“There was a stakeholder meeting last week where the government committed that it will not close exports, but rather only restrict imports . . . we hope that the government will remain faithful to its commitment,” Mr Moshoeshoe said.
He welcomed the decision to allow exports to continue, saying it had spared farmers from economic devastation. However, he raised concern over the continued suspension of imports, noting that if the restrictions persist, they will pose a serious challenge during the breeding season as Lesotho’s farmers often rely on importing breeding stock from South Africa to maintain high-quality wool and mohair.
Mr Moshoeshoe urged the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, together with the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), to find a way to contain the disease without shutting down business operations.
Lesotho Wool and Mohair Growers Association Chairperson, Mokoenehi Thinyane, said the association alone generates over M800 million every shearing season, excluding income made by individual farmers who are not members.
Meanwhile, Qacha’s Nek wool and mohair farmer, Ishmael Mohaula, voiced strong concerns about the consequences of export restrictions, saying many farmers’ livelihoods are entirely dependent on wool and mohair revenue.
He warned that suspending exports could severely affect farmers’ ability to pay for school fees and other household expenses, potentially resulting in hunger and school dropouts.
Mr Mohaula acknowledged the need to prevent the spread of disease and agreed that some restrictions could be necessary. However, he appealed to the government to step in and purchase wool and mohair from farmers at reasonable prices, with the intention of reselling it once the situation improves, should exports eventually be halted.
“If the government does not buy our fabric at a reasonable price, farmers will be forced to store their wool and mohair and sell small portions locally just to survive during this restricted period,” Mr Mohaula said.
Last week, Cabinet discussed the potential suspension of livestock product trade—including wool and mohair—as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Minister of Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation, Nthati Moorosi, said the temporary export ban is being considered because Lesotho’s wool and mohair are exported through South Africa, and Lesotho currently lacks adequate systems to prevent disease contamination.
She said Lesotho faces a high risk of infection, primarily due to a critical shortage of veterinarians in the country.
“Because of the scarcity of veterinary professionals, we do not conduct regular testing for foot-and-mouth disease. We have not even vaccinated our livestock, which makes us even more vulnerable,” Ms Moorosi said.
She added that Qacha’s Nek remains the most vulnerable district due to its proximity to KwaZulu-Natal, the South African province with the highest number of reported foot-and-mouth cases.
She said while no final decision has been made, Cabinet is considering the temporary halting of wool and mohair exports to avoid possible contamination — warning that any outbreak could cause significant losses to the sector.
