Smallholder Agriculture Development Project - II

The development objective of the Second Smallholder Agriculture Development Project for Lesotho is to support increased adoption of climate smart agricultural (CSA) technologies in Lesotho's agriculture, enhanced commercialization, and improved dietary diversity among targeted beneficiaries. The project comprises of four components. The first component, promoting climate smart agricultural practices and advisory services aims at strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to adjust and modify their production systems to minimize the potential future impacts from climate variability. It consists of following sub-components: (i) capacity building in CSA practices; (ii) rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation infrastructure; (iii) support for investments in soil fertility management; and (iv) integrated climate, weather, and market advisory services. The second component, improving agricultural commercialization and nutrition will provide much-needed financial support to farmers and agro-processors benefiting from the technology training and irrigation support provided under component one. It consists of following sub-components: (i) support for horizontal alliances; (ii) vertical alliances and commercialization; and (iii) improved nutrition. The third component will support project management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation (M and E) of project activities. The fourth component, contingency emergency response will provide immediate and effective response to said eligible crisis or emergency, defined as an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause a major adverse economic and or social impact associated with natural or man-made crises or disasters.