Lesotho Hosts the 6th APPSA Regional Steering Committee Meeting in Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village
This is the time to take stock of key project accomplishments and challenges to provide actionable guidance for the successful completion of the remaining activities.
The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho hosted the 6th Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting on the 13th of September 2023 in Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village. Chaired by Lesotho’s Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Mrs Phakamile Xingwana, the meeting was attended by RSC members from APPSA first phase countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia) and current implementing countries (Angola and Lesotho).
The delegation from the Republic of Mozambique was led by the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – Mrs Dárcia Nhacale. From the Republic of Angola, the delegation was led by the Director General of Agronomic Research Institute – Dr João Ferreira da Costa Neto. The Republic of Malawi was led by the Director of Agricultural Research – Dr Grace Kaudzu, while the delegation from the Republic of Zambia was led by the Acting Director of Zambia Agricultural Research Institute - Dr Dickson Ng’uni. Also, in attendance was the Center for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), led by the Executive Director and Head of Mission – Prof. Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini.
Mrs Phakamile Xingwana (left) and Mrs Dárcia Nhacale in their opening remarks.
APPSA is a six-year World Bank funded initiative based on collaborative implementation of Research and Development sub-projects and strengthening of research capacity through the establishment of Regional Centers of Leadership (RCoL) on commodities of regional importance. Under APPSA, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, have successfully established RCoLs on Maize, Rice and Food Legumes, respectively. Currently, Angola is establishing an RCoL on Cassava and Cassava-based farming systems whereas Lesotho is focusing on Horticulture and Horticulture-based farming systems.
This meeting was held at a time when the project is left with less than two years on its implementation plan. This is the time to take stock of key project accomplishments and challenges to provide actionable guidance for the successful completion of the remaining activities. As current implementers, Angola and Lesotho are collaborating in 43 R&D sub-projects whose results are expected to benefit the two countries and the entire Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) through spillover effects.
The main discussion points were based on progress reports that were presented by Angola and Lesotho, as well as regional activities that are implemented by CCARDESA. First phase countries also shared their experiences mainly on sustainability initiatives and measures implemented after the closure of Phase 1. Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia also shared information on national programmes implemented to strengthen the uptake of improved varieties generated through APPSA to increase availability and access by farmers at country and regional levels.
On the 14th of September 2023, RSC members visited Mahobong Research Station (in Leribe), about 120km from Maseru, to appreciate some of the APPSA ongoing activities in Lesotho, including infrastructure development as well as agroforestry research trials on intercropping peach trees with peas. In Mahobong, RSC members also visited a community owned orchard with over 10 hectares of fruit trees currently supplying major supermarket chains in Lesotho.
Mahobong Research Station.
