Machobane Farming Systemand its Relevance to Climate
Change Policy in Lesotho
African Technology Policy Studies Network

POLICY BRIEF No. 35
Sissay B. Mekbib
Adesola O. Olaleye
Motlatsi N. Mokhothu
Masia Johane
Spirit B. Tilai
Taddese Wondimu

Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I

12 I Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho

POLICY BRIEF

MACHOBANE FARMING SYSTEM AND ITSRELEVANCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE POLICYIN LESOTHO
Sissay B. Mekbib

Masia Johane

Adesola O. Olaleye

Spirit B. Tilai

National University of Lesotho
P. O. Roma 180

National University of Lesotho
P. O. Roma 180

Motlatsi N. Mokhothu
National University of Lesotho
P. O. Roma 180

Department of Livestock Marketing and Registration,Maseru, Lesotho

National University of Lesotho
P. O. Roma 180

Taddese Wondimu

National University of Lesotho
P. O. Roma 180

August 2011
Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I3

The African technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers,private sector actors andpolicy makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation )ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialoque,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.
Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network
P O Bx 10081, 00100 GPO Nairobi Kenya© 2012Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network

ISBN: 978-9966-030-23-8

4 I Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in LesothoTable of ContentsAcknowledgement					1.
Introduction					2.
Main Findings				3.
Policy Options				

4567

Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I

53Acknowledgement
This report was produced as part of the implementation of the ATPS Phase VI
Strategic Plan, 2008-2012 funded by ATPS Donors including the Ministerie van
Buitenlandse Zaken (DGIS) the Netherlands, and the Rockefeller Foundation,
amongst others. The authors hereby thank the ATPS for the financial and technicalsupport during the implementation of the program. The Authors specially thank theATPS Climate Sense Program Director, Dr. Kevin Urama (ATPS); and the Program
Coordinators including Prof. Francis Mutua (ATPS Kenya); Dr. George Essegbey(ATPS Ghana), Prof. Eric Eboh (ATPS Nigeria), Dr. Nicholas Ozor (ATPS), and Ms.
Wairimu Mwangi (ATPS) for their technical support during the research process.

6 I Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho4

1.0 		Introduction

Lesotho is heavily influenced by a variety of competing weather systems becauseof its high elevation that range from 1,388 to 3,482m above sea level. In accordancewith Article 4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change(UNFCCC), these climatic conditions make Lesotho to be highly vulnerable toclimate change impacts. The country is already experiencing some impacts ofglobal warming as seen by the increasing frequency of natural disasters, droughts
and emerging signs of desertification, fragile characteristics of its soil and terrain,
and erratic climatic conditions such as changing patterns in rainfall periods andthe risk of shorter growing seasons.
The observed and anticipated impacts of climate change are likely to affectagricultural production and livelihoods as more than 80% of the population in
Lesotho are farmers that depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihood.
The Basotho farmers have adopted innovations and practices imported externallysince the arrival of the Missionaries in the 19th century and used them to improvetheir agricultural production. However, the lack of access to modern technologies
and farming methods including High Value Crops (HVCs) and inorganic fertilizers
continue to hamper the realisation of food security. Lack of modern technologies
notwithstanding, climate change effects have also contributed to decreased cropyields as a result of poorly developing buds; pest infestation, drought, flooding
and hail storms. The available arable land has also greatly shrunken and become
inaccessible for farming.
The development and promotion of indigenous farming systems like Machobane
Farming System (MfS) has over the years become popular among Basotho
farmers because it has proved to respond positively to consumer needs of foodvariety and security. The MfS is an integrated organic farming system which
derives inputs from crop-livestock combination and involves a rotational, labour
intensive intercropping system using kraal manure/ash to improve soil fertility. Thesustenance of fertility from the soil that slowly release nutrients for crops and theconservation of the soil moisture content in MfS makes it resilience to climatechange noticeable.
Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I

75

In order to either take full advantage of new opportunities and potential that may
come with climate change, or avert human sufferings that may be associated with
its adverse effect, a comprehensive study was conducted through the supportof the African Technology and Policy Studies Network (ATPS) to investigate themitigative and/or adaptive characteristics of the MfS in combating the negative
impacts of climate change in Lesotho. The study sought to answer the following
questions:1. What are the perceived causes of poor crop production by households?
2. What are the physicochemical characteristics of both MfS and nonMachobane Farming System soils from the different agro-ecological zonesof Lesotho?
3. What are the soil microbiota as soil fertility indicator from both MfS andnon-Machobane Farming System soils from the different agro-ecologicalzones of Lesotho?
4. What information is available on current traditional pest control practices
including important pest list and type of crop diseases in the major croppingzones of the country?
5. How do the basic field agronomic features, cropping practices, andMeteorological data within the study area relate to each other?

2.0		

Main Findings

Improvement of soil quality
Most MfS soils were found to be rich in clay, organic content with slightly acidic or
neutral pH compared to the non-MfS soils. Although the available phosphorous
content of the soil is generally low, the MfS soils exhibited relatively higher
content of available phosphorus and low lime requirements compared to the nonMfS soils. Further, the MfS soils showed higher number of soil fertility indicator
microorganisms (Bacillus and Nitrogen fixing bacteria) compared to the non- MfS
soils. The activity of Bacillus spp. and Nitrogen fixing bacteria has an overallameliorative effect to the soil pH. Significant differences were observed in soil pH
8 I Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho6improvement in some MfS practicing farms compared to the non-MfS soils.
Presence of crop pests
Insects were identified as the major pests followed by fungal and bacterial infections
that cause great damage to crop plants in Lesotho. Stock Borer (Busseola fusca),and Bagrada Bug (Bagrada hilaris) were identified as the major insect pests
followed by Aphids that damages leafs and stems. Forty four percent of therespondents reported using commercial pesticides to control pests whereas 30percent reported using traditional pesticides. The formation of concoction using
various plant materials and other inputs was also highlighted by farmers during
Focused Group Discussions.
Precipitation levels
In general, the percentage change of precipitation over years in Lesotho between
1923 and 2006 was found to be decreasing at a high rate. The specific measurestaken to address effects of changing of climate conditions vary from one village
to the other. In the mountains and foothills, on-farm trials by farmers are ongoingto establish appropriate crops that can cope with shifting of sawing season. Inaddition other practices such as mulching and returning residue on to the fields(in the dry Senqu River valley), ploughing the land with retained plant residue andavoiding burning of plant residues are some of the farm practices currently applied
to cope with climate change. Construction of small dams for sustainable supply ofirrigation water in drought prone areas with high activity of farming practices arealso advised.

3.0		

Policy options

An alternative promising approach to boosting crop production and combatingclimate change impacts embraces the introduction and implementation of
innovative indigenous farming technologies. There is therefore a greater need topractice more robust farming systems considering the increased climate change
Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I

97

impacts in Lesotho, including boosting government commitment in terms of budget
allocation to the agricultural sector.
Our findings show that compared to other farming technologies practiced inLesotho, the Machobane Farming System has more adaptive and resilient nature
with the application of traditional and technological inputs to produce diverse crops
throughout the year. It is more economical and environmentally friendly practicethat restores the soil fertility and improves crop production in quality and quantity.
Its wider application among Basotho farmers would help them cope with the effects
of climate change. The following policy measures are thus recommended;•

To disseminate knowledge to needy communities in all regions, it’s proposedthat multi-faceted experience sharing program combining workshops,
visitations to model farming systems in Lesotho, networking and distributionof training manuals and relevant literature materials should be promoted
by responsible national and regional organisations. Such an approachis believed to play an important role in bringing a shift in social attitudes
towards the improvement of farming practices in crop production.

•Education and guidance of farmers by Government and NGOs is important
based on their indigenous knowledge towards building adaptive measures
to climate changes.

•Researching and release of short term growing crops to farmers by theAgriculture research department and higher institutions is suggested asthese crops would resist drought and disease.

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LesothoMachobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho I

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The African technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers,private sector actors and policy
makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation )ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialoque,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.

African TechnologyPolicy Studies Network

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Science, Technology and Innovation
for African Development

12 I Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change Policy in Lesotho

ISBN: 978-9966-030-23-8