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Agriculture in Lesotho is a major source of economic growth of the country. The mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Lesotho is to provide positive management of participatory expansion and execution of programs to the farmers. Lesotho Agriculture promises to offer specialist advisory farming services to the farming community.
In Lesotho, agriculture utilizes about 86% of the entire labor force. The contribution of agriculture towards the composition of GDP in comparison with various sectors is
18.2 %. Wheat, corn, sorghum, pulses, livestock and barley are the major agricultural products.
Livestock is a prime agricultural source of revenue in Lesotho. The majority of the farmers of Lesotho raise live stock to preserve “food security” during the time of emergency. The animals that are reared in the country include sheep and goats as they produce milk, meat, good quality wool and mohair. The bulk of crops and livestock are grown in small villages that are positioned far away from the main roadways. Fish production or farming in the villages of Lesotho is another integral part of the agriculture sector of the country.
The agricultural products are used by Lesotho local people and the excess is sold overseas. The forest area of the country is very disjointed. The country has about 874 hectares of forest area. Most plantings have been commenced by the Ministry of Agriculture for improvement of woodlot. The Lesotho government has initiated a tree sowing plan with the aim to supply building materials and fuel. The Ministry of Agriculture in Lesotho is surveying ways that would aid to maximize production of dairy sub-sectors and poultry.
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