Leribe Chiefs Urged to Champion Monthly Nutrition Days in Support of King Letsie III

In a passionate call to action, the Principal Chief of Leribe, Joel Mots’oene, has urged fellow traditional leaders to actively support nutrition clubs as part of a wider effort to back King Letsie III in his role as African Union Nutrition Champion.

Chief Joele made the remarks during the final Agriculture Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nutrition and Food Security at Leribe Moreneng on Friday, concluding a series that began in April.

The chief emphasized the critical role that traditional leadership plays in mobilizing communities and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. He proposed that chiefs across Leribe convene monthly “Nutrition Days,” during which local nutrition clubs and farmers can showcase and sell their produce to fellow villagers.

“These gatherings will not just be exhibitions,” said Chief Joele. “They will also be opportunities for communities to support local producers by purchasing fresh, nutritious goods.”

In his commitment to this initiative, Chief Joele pledged to offer space for these monthly events and called on the Ministry to work more closely with local chiefs to spread the word. “If we use the traditional structures to communicate, more people will participate,” he added.

The event also featured remarks from Leribe District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Mr. Ts’iu Mphanya, who praised the exhibition series for advancing the Ministry’s goals of integrating nutrition and agriculture at the community level.

“These exhibitions allow us to see how nutrition clubs, farmers, and agricultural officers collaborate in real-world settings,” Mphanya noted. “We are especially focused on the types of agricultural products grown both in fields and in home gardens.”

He highlighted that the exhibitions, which began in Likhakeng, have since been held in various communities including Likhetlane, Ha Ramapepe, Nqechane, Kolonyama, Mathokoane, Konkotiea, and Taale.

Both Chief Joele and DAO Mphanya emphasized that sustaining this momentum beyond the exhibitions is key. Monthly Nutrition Days, they believe, can empower communities, enhance food security, and align closely with national efforts to combat malnutrition while upholding King Letsie III’s regional advocacy on nutrition.

As the curtain falls on the current exhibition season, Leribe’s traditional leaders are now expected to take the next steps in transforming these events into a monthly tradition of health, unity, and local empowerment.