​IKETSETSE

Goals

 

REDUCE POVERTY

IN LESOTHO

 

 

BY

 

TEACHING 

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

About Lesotho

Lesotho is a small landlocked country completely surrounded by its neighbor South Africa. It is a nation of mountains with the highest low point of any country in the world. Its greatest resources are water and diamonds and these along with mohair and some textiles are its only exports. The people of Lesotho pronounced “lesootoo” are called Basotho and their language is Sesotho. Basotho are a resourceful and enduring people but they face many challenges.

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world. The HIV-AIDs rate among adults is 23.2% the third highest. Out of a population of slightly more than 2 million there are over 100,000 children who have lost one or both parents with many child headed households. 80% of Basotho people depend on subsistence agriculture. Crop yields have declined 50% from what they were only a few decades ago. Soil degradation and erosion has brought the percentage of arable land from 11% to 9% in that time. Scientists have warned that if erosion continues at the present rate there will be essentially no land to plant by 2040. Over 25% of Basotho depend on food aid. Unemployment is over 50% with 40% of people living below the international poverty level with incomes of less than $1.25 per day.