Food insecurity persists due to low incomes and high staple food prices
Key Messages
- Following an earlier-than-normal start to the lean season,100,000 to 250,000 people are expected to be in need of humanitarian food assistance during the October to January period. Area-level Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected through January 2025 in the southern districts, particularly Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Qacha’s Nek, and Quthing, which were the hardest hit by the El Niño- induced drought. Acute food insecurity in Lesotho is being driven by drought-related low harvests, high staple food prices, and below-average incomes. Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected across the remainder of the country through January 2025.
- Households are likely to deplete their stocks early due to the below-average harvest amidst minimal off-farm casual labor opportunities. Harvests for most households are estimated to last about three months (until the end of July), after which households will rely on market food purchases to meet their food needs. Above-average prices for imported cereals from South Africa will also contribute to lower-than-normal household purchasing capacity.
- A normal start to the 2024/25 agricultural season is expected due to the forecasted timely onset of rainfall. Seasonal agricultural labor opportunities from land preparation and planting are expected to be normal. However, wage rates are likely to be below normal due to increased competition for labor opportunities and lower-than-normal liquidity among middle and better-off households as more poor households try to engage in casual labor activities to earn income for staple purchases.
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