Cape Town - Lesotho, currently experiencing severe food shortages is reportedly set to receive the first consignment of maize from South Africa, which has responded with a R180m donation to the country’s appeal for aid.
This follows an agreement reached with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to buy maize from South African smallholder farmers as part of a R180m South African humanitarian donation to Lesotho, Bernama National News Agency said.
The transportation of a total of 4 920 bags of maize meal, each weighing 25kg is set to begin on Friday, with several more trips expected be made in January, Spokesperson for the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Palesa Mokomele said.
Reports say Lesotho declared an emergency food crisis in July 2012 and formally requested support from development partners and the international community.
