The Government of Lesotho, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), today launched the second phase of the project Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II).
STOSAR II (2025–2028) is a EUR 10 million initiative funded by the EU under the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) programme. The project builds on the achievements of STOSAR I (2018–2024) to accelerate the transformation of agriculture and food systems across the 16 SADC Member States, including Lesotho.
In Lesotho, STOSAR I supported the establishment and strengthening of agricultural information systems and addressed transboundary pests and disease. Building on these successes, STOSAR II will focus on four priority areas:
- Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS): Improving national agricultural data and knowledge platforms for evidence-based policymaking.
- Market Access: Strengthened Plant and Animal Health by tackling transboundary pests and diseases and enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) systems to strengthen trade opportunities.
- Food and Nutrition Security (FNS): Supporting monitoring and early warning systems to guide timely policy responses.
- Inclusive Value Chains: Expanding opportunities for women, youth, and SMEs to participate in sustainable and climate-smart markets.
The initiative supports the implementation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), adopted in 2013 to advance sustainable agricultural growth, food and nutrition security, and regional integration. The RAP is closely aligned with the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), launched in 2003, and the CAADP Strategy 2026–2035 under the Kampala Declaration of January 2025.
Through this alignment, STOSAR II contributes to food security, climate resilience, inclusive growth, and agro-industrialization in Lesotho and across the region.
Opening the launch workshop in Maseru, Thabo Sekhonyana on behalf of the Principal Secretary of the ministry of Agriculture said
"The launch of STOSAR II in Lesotho comes at a critical time, as the Ministry enters the summer cropping season when the onset of rains heightens the risk of plant and animal disease outbreaks."
"This new phase will build on the achievements of STOSAR I to sustain agricultural production and resilience. By working together, we can further strengthen food security and improve livelihoods across Lesotho.” he added.
Mokitinyane Nthimo, Assistant FAO Representative reaffirmed FAO's commitment to the successful implementation of phase II saying
“FAO is proud to partner with the Government of Lesotho, SADC, and the EU in delivering STOSAR II which is aimed at operationalizing SADC’s regional agriculture policy to create sustainable agriculture growth and social development in SADC region.”
The launch workshop was attended by agriculture officers across the crops, livestock and marketing departments and, senior Ministry of Agriculture officials.