Lesotho relies on South Africa for 80% of its imports. Border closures and lockdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic mean a reduction in the vital agricultural inputs that can come into Lesotho. This means the conditions of some rural farmers are worsening due to the deterioration in the quality of their animals.

HELP collaborated with IFAD Lesotho to improve the capacity of the Lesotho national wool and mohair local farmers association in the areas of procurement, sourcing and distribution of agricultural inputs; to make their supply chains more efficient – and shore them up in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HELP supported the farmer association to create better procurement forecasts that will reduce stock outs and better supplier tracking methods to make sure supply chain relationships are stronger and based on actual supplier performance.

These changes will reduce sourcing costs, improve farmer welfare and ensure a sustainable supply chain that support farmers during this critical time.