We as rural women of Lesotho to reflect, learn, and raise our collective voice on the future of our food systems. Climate change continues to affect our land, water, crops, and livelihoods. Droughts, soil erosion, rising food prices, and unemployment are daily realities faced by rural women across the country. In recent years, climate change has become more visible and destructive in Lesotho. We are now experiencing prolonged winters with extremely heavy snowfall that damages crops, destroys infrastructure, and causes severe livestock losses. Our summers are increasingly marked by violent hailstorms that kill livestock, destroy crops, and leave farming families with nothing. These hail storms have particularly affected sheep, which are the backbone of Lesotho’s wool and mohair industry. Many farmers have lost their animals, yet there is no effective compensation mechanism to support those who lose their livelihoods due to climate disasters. Rural women, who depend on these animals for income, food, school fees, and survival, are the hardest hit.

Lesotho’s food system is under serious pressure due to:

– Climate change and recurrent droughts

– Prolonged winters and heavy snowfall

– Violent hail storms during summer seasons

– Declining soil fertility and land degradation

– Dependence on imported food

– High levels of rural poverty and unemployment

– Limited support for small-scale women farmers

Rural women remain the backbone of food production, seed saving, and household nutrition. However, they continue to face limited access to land, finance, livestock, and agricultural inputs. Climate shocks such as snowstorms and hailstorms worsen these inequalities and push rural women further into poverty.

When livestock die due to extreme weather, families lose their main source of income and food security. The loss of sheep due to hailstorms directly affects the wool and mohair sector, which is a major contributor to the economy of Lesotho. Unfortunately, farmers receive little to no compensation for these losses, leaving them trapped in cycles of vulnerability and poverty.

Rural women have knowledge on

– Agroecology and sustainable farming practices

– Indigenous seed saving and protection

– Climate resilience and adaptation strategies

– Women’s land rights and access to resources

– Livestock protection and disaster preparedness

Rural women continue to face multiple barriers, including:

– Climate-induced crop failure and livestock deaths

– Poor access to irrigation and water

– High costs of agricultural inputs

– Limited access to climate insurance and disaster relief

– Lack of compensation for climate-related losses

– Weak market access

– Exclusion from agricultural policy decision-making

The current food system continues to favor large-scale commercial farming while small-scale rural women farmers struggle without adequate support. Harmful agricultural chemicals continue to affect soil, water, and human health.

CALL TO ACTION

We call upon:

– The Government of Lesotho to establish climate disaster compensation mechanisms for farmers

– The Ministry of Agriculture to prioritize agroecology and climate-resilient farming

– Development partners to invest in rural women-led climate solutions

– Financial institutions to provide accessible insurance for livestock and crops

– Civil society organizations to strengthen advocacy on climate justice

Food sovereignty is a human right. Climate justice is a necessity. The future of Lesotho’s food system must be shaped by the people who feed the nation.

OUR COMMITMENT AS HOPE FOR RURAL WOMEN ASSEMBLY

We commit to:

– Amplifying the voices of rural women

– Promoting sustainable agriculture and agroecology

– Protecting indigenous seeds and livestock

– Advocating for policy change

– Strengthening climate resilience at community level

– Supporting women farmers affected by climate disasters

Nothing for rural women without rural women.