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4.3. The most pronounced decline occurred in 2018, as output contracted by 20%. The lack of significant investment in agriculture has left the sector vulnerable to climate change. (...)

4.4. (...) Lesotho is heavily deforested, with forests covering only some 1.6% of the land area.[39](...)
[39] FAO (2020), Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020.

4.6. In accordance with the National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II) for 2018/19-2022/23, the authorities aim at ensuring sustainable commercial agriculture and limiting climate change impacts, environmental degradation, and other natural disasters, as well as harmful agricultural practices. In this regard, their specific interventions seek to, inter alia, increase agricultural production and commercialization, protect the environment, and reverse the trend of the current environmental degradation (Table 4.2).

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
Strategic objectives: Improve functioning of land markets
Interventions: (...)
• Conduct land capability assessment and create online database of land parcels suitable for agricultural production and responsible irrigation.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Improve genetic resources
Interventions: (...)
•Promote conservation of gene banks, community seed banks, and zoological and botanical gardens to conserve biological diversity of valuable plant and animal species.
•Promote management and conservation of indigenous breeds and enhance appropriate use.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Build sustainable infrastructure for agriculture[a]
Interventions: (...)
• Promote environmentally friendly and energy-saving irrigation and water harvesting.
• Promote climate smart and resource efficient infrastructure.
• Develop irrigation policy and irrigation master plan.
• Strengthen and promote integrated catchment management.
(...)
• Establish Lesotho Agri-Georeferenced Information System.[b]
[a] Physical infrastructure strategic interventions should take into account the environmental impact assessment, as per the Environment Act, 2008.
[b] Timely availability of reliable georeferenced land, climate, plant nutrients, production, and water information – integrated with infrastructural and socio-economic factors – are essential for stakeholders, policy makers, enterprises, and land users to exercise the best choices in using resources to achieve sustainable levels of food production and development.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Improve technology and use for agriculture
Interventions:
• Promote conservation agriculture.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Improve production of high-value crops and livestock products
Interventions: (...)
• Develop climate screening guidelines to reduce production risks and vulnerabilities.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Build capacity of farmers, agricultural institutions, and associations
Interventions: (...)
• Integrate environment and climate change into agricultural policies, strategies, plans, and regulatory frameworks.
(...)
• Raise awareness of farmers advocating for adoption of climate smart and conservation agricultural practices.
• Strengthen capacity of extension agents, associations, and training institutions on climate smart and conservation agriculture.
(...)

Table 4.2 Strategic objectives in agriculture
(...)
Strategic objectives: Improve management of range resources
Interventions: (...)
• Rehabilitate rangelands and wetlands in collaboration with private sector, investors, and communities.
• Develop and implement conservation strategies to improve rangeland resource resilience to climate change.
• Improve existing guidelines and grazing control regulations for sustainable management of range resources.
(...)
• Devise and implement mechanisms for mandatory compensation for utilization of rangeland resources (e.g. environmental services and ecosystem services) for the grazing levy, etc.
• Manage alien and invasive vegetation species.
• Enforce key land use policies and acts (e.g. land, environment, range, water, climate change, etc.).
(...)