Lesotho’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Thabo Mofosi, Leads at UN Food Systems Summit in Ethiopia

The Kingdom of Lesotho is making its mark on the global stage as Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Hon. Thabo Mofosi, leads the nation’s delegation to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (#UNFSS) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit brought together high-level delegations, policymakers, development partners, farmers’ representatives, and innovators under the compelling theme: “Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Food Systems for All.”

Lesotho’s active participation in the summit underscores its firm commitment to advancing regional and global efforts to transform food systems, aiming for improved nutrition security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for its people.

Throughout the summit, Hon. Mofosi engaged in key thematic dialogues covering critical topics such as climate-smart agriculture, food value chains, indigenous crop promotion, and youth-led innovation in food production. He highlighted Lesotho’s strides in aligning national agricultural policies with the United Nations Food Systems Roadmap and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

A significant highlight of the Minister’s engagement was a technical field visit to Adama, a leading agricultural hub in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region. This visit offered insight into integrated food systems models that include smallholder farmer empowerment, innovative post-harvest processing techniques, improved market access, and sustainable environmental practices.

Minister Mofosi expressed admiration for community-based nutrition-sensitive farming models witnessed during the visit and showed keen interest in adopting relevant lessons to strengthen Lesotho’s own local food systems, especially in its rural highland areas where food security challenges remain pressing.

Reaffirming Lesotho’s commitment to a multilateral approach in transforming food systems, Hon. Mofosi thanked both the United Nations and the African Union for hosting the summit at a critical time. With food insecurity, climate change, and economic shocks continuing to challenge the African continent, such collaborative platforms are vital for crafting innovative, sustainable solutions.

Lesotho’s leadership at the UN Food Systems Summit signals a robust dedication to ensuring a resilient and equitable food future, not only for its citizens but also as part of a united continental effort.