Lesotho is grappling with a severe food security crisis, made worse by El Niño weather pattern, which is disrupting the critical 2024/25 summer planting and rainy season. Persistent crop failures, dwindling food production, water shortages, and skyrocketing food prices have severely hit the country’s agricultural production with 41% of rural households now forced to spend more than half of their income just to put food on the table.
In 2022 and 2023, back-to-back La Niña events brought heavy rains that badly damaged crops and reduced harvests in Lesotho. The food insecurity crisis was further exacerbated during the 2023/2024 rainfall season, as the El Niño phenomenon further disrupted people’s lives, livelihoods, and investments. This weather pattern shift had ripple effects across many areas, intensifying challenges across various sectors and deepening the socio-economic impact for communities.
Although Lesotho planted more crops during the 2023/24 season compared to previous years, the country still saw below-average harvests, leading to an increased reliance on markets and a subsequent rise in maize prices (a staple food). Dry spells from January to March severely affected a range of crops, especially maize, resulting in substantial losses for poor and very poor households. Driving home the severity of the crisis, the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) projected that a staggering 325,000 people (22% of the rural population) would be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). As a result, families began purchasing food from local markets earlier than usual, leading to rising food prices and making it even harder for poorer households to make ends meet.
In response, the Government of Lesotho, through the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC), carried out an early assessment to get a clearer picture of the current food situation. The findings revealed that Lesotho is facing severe food shortages, with the crisis expected to worsen as El Niño impacts the critical October 2024 to March 2025 period. This extreme weather event hit during the crucial 2024/25 summer planting and rainy season, severely impacting farming. The country experienced widespread crop failures, reduced production, rising concerns over safety and protection, water shortages, and soaring food prices. The impact was particularly severe in several regions, including the Southern Lowlands, Foothills, Mountains, and the Senqu River Valley.
According to the 2024/25 LVAC report, as of June 2024, half of Lesotho’s ten districts were in crisis (IPC Phase 3) for food security, while the other five were classified as stressed (IPC Phase 2). The entire country is expected to reach crisis level (IPC Phase 3) by October 2024, highlighting the urgent need for action to save lives and protect livelihoods. According to the latest reports, an estimated 699,049 individuals in both urban and rural areas are facing food insecurity, highlighting the widespread food needs across Lesotho.
The Government of Lesotho took action by declaring a state of emergency and appealed to local and international development partners for immediate assistance. In response, a National Drought Response Plan was issued in July 2024, which identified both short-term and long-term humanitarian requirements to alleviate the effects of the drought. The Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) has been on the front lines, working to ensure effective aid distribution and strengthen community resilience.