Youth Embrace Farming as Ministry of Agriculture Ramps Up Support Initiatives

Lesotho’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Honourable Thabo Mofosi, has commended the country’s youth for showing growing enthusiasm towards agriculture, calling it a vital pillar of Lesotho’s economy and a key driver of national development.

Speaking at a recent gathering held at the Maseru Agricultural College, the Honourable Minister addressed a room filled with journalists and young aspiring farmers. The purpose of the meeting was to outline the Ministry’s strategy for supporting young people in agriculture and to encourage youth-led employment creation in the sector.

“Farming is the backbone of this country, and it is encouraging to see young people embracing it with such passion,” Mofosi said. He further emphasized that the Ministry is focused on empowering youth not through direct employment, but by enabling them to create their own opportunities within agriculture.

The Minister explained that every government Ministry had committed to the Prime Minister to present a plan for youth employment. For his department, this means creating conditions that foster innovation, self-reliance, and productivity among young people in farming and agribusiness.

Through the Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP) Centre, the Ministry is already offering technical support and mentorship to young people who are interested in agriculture or are already active in the field. The aim, Mofosi said, is to empower successful youth agripreneurs to become employers themselves, thereby multiplying job opportunities for others.

In a bid to strengthen this support, Honourable Mofosi announced specific interventions tailored to different sectors of agriculture. He said potato farmers will receive pesticides and fertilizers to boost crop yields. Those involved in egg-laying poultry production will get assistance through feed supply, provided they are actively operating. Additionally, greenhouse farmers will benefit from targeted support to enhance production efficiency.

The Minister urged young people who wish to benefit from these opportunities to submit their applications at their nearest district agricultural offices. He noted that the window for applications is limited, with the deadline set for the end of July.

With agriculture emerging as a growing field of interest among the youth, Honourable Mofosi expressed confidence that these initiatives will not only uplift young people but also strengthen the country’s food systems and reduce unemployment in the long term.