OTHER LOCAL THEMES
culture and customs
development
economics
education
employment and income
environmental knowledge
family life
gender
health
history
land
livelihood strategies
livestock
migration
resettlement
social change
social institutions
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BACKGROUND
introducing the area

agriculture

 quotes about agriculture
 key testimonies featuring agriculture

Agriculture is absolutely central to the life of the community. Narrators claim that the area is essentially agriculturally self-sufficient and there is often some surplus. Although the environment is harsh, the soil is black and fertile from alluvial deposits; as one narrator puts it, "it [was] manure by itself; it [was] already fertiliser by itself". Kraals for livestock are located on higher-lying stony ground where crop production would have been difficult, while the fields are on flatter, lower ground. This makes it possible for animal manure, ash and other waste generated by households to be washed down to the fields when rains fall. Nobody uses artificial fertiliser as they do in the lowlands; rather, they use animal dung, which may be mixed with the seed before sowing. Crop production has also benefited from the fact that the area has been largely free of pests, at least until recently. So agriculture in Molika-liko has been a relatively inexpensive undertaking which has brought good returns.

The principal crops are maize, wheat and cannabis, which is the main cash crop. Farmers have experimented with other crops, and established that pulses can be grown, though much less successfully than maize and wheat. Although the soil is fertile, people stress that they work it hard by, for example, turning the soil in winter and also alternating the two main food crops - in order to "fatten the soil". Other crops mentioned are rye, potatoes and sorghum. People cultivate small vegetable gardens as well as their fields.

Farmers collect and conserve their own seed. Sowing in lines has replaced broadcasting, a change that people say has led to better yields (although a minority hold that the harvest was better in the past). New varieties have been introduced, including a type of maize known as "the stalk is hairy", which is said to have increased yields but, to some, tastes less good than traditional varieties.

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quotes about agriculture

"Each and every crop, we plant each and every crop - peas, beans, wheat, maize like that, pumpkins, potatoes, every single thing we planted and ate and became full in the stomach."
'Maseipati, F/elderly, Lesotho 12

"Most of us [make rows] by hands only; when cattle [pulling a plough] come out that side, I am holding a little tin by this hand of mine, I am just making rows. I am taking out two maize [seeds] and two cannabis [seeds] and I throw them into the furrow, like that."
Motseki, M/40s, Lesotho 20

"I depend mainly on agriculture like most people in this village. We grow maize, sorghum and different vegetables. We also have wild vegetables to supplement our diet in case of severe drought. Basically, we are self sufficient in this village. The surrounding villages often come to our village for food and we sell them whatever surplus we have."
Makibinyane, M/40s, Lesotho 3

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