The Lesotho National Farmers Union (LENAFU) stands as a pivotal and indispensable representative body for farmers throughout Lesotho. Its foundational purpose is to rigorously advocate for the diverse interests of the nation’s agricultural sector, which constitutes the backbone of the rural economy and is crucial for food security.
LENAFU’s main role is multifaceted: to empower individual farmers through education and access to resources, to significantly enhance agricultural productivity across various scales of farming, and to vigorously promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices that ensure long-term environmental health and economic viability.
For both domestic and international investors, LENAFU’s significance is profound, particularly in its capacity for robust and strategic policy advocacy. It directly contributes to the cultivation of a more stable, transparent, and attractive investment climate within the agricultural sector. LENAFU proactively and consistently engages with governmental bodies during critical stages of policy formulation, ensuring that the genuine needs, challenges, and aspirations of farmers are meticulously considered and addressed in national agricultural strategies and legislation.
Its broad spectrum of advocacy efforts includes championing policies designed to stimulate tangible agricultural growth (e.g., research and development, input subsidies, credit access) and advocating for initiatives that improve market access for farmers (e.g., better transportation infrastructure, efficient value chains, fair prices). These efforts are geared towards creating an environment that actively attracts and retains investment into farming operations and a wide array of related agro-industries.
LENAFU is instrumental in shaping a predictable and supportive regulatory environment by fostering continuous and collaborative dialogue between the farming community and key policymakers. Such an environment is absolutely essential for encouraging and sustaining both local and foreign agricultural investments, thereby driving economic development and contributing to the overall prosperity of Lesotho.