Browsing by Author "Moholoholo, Thuso Hendrick"

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    An assessment of the usefulness of the concept of food sovereignty in achieving food security in Lesotho
    (National University of Lesotho, 0100) Moholoholo, Thuso Hendrick; Setsabi, Setsabi
    Lesotho is confronted with ongoing challenges pertaining to food insecurity (FAO, 2023), which are frequently addressed through market-centric strategies such as the Smallholder Agriculture Development Project (SADP). This initiative aims to foster the commercialisation of smallholder agriculture within designated value chains to bolster traditional metrics of food security (World Bank, 2016). Nonetheless, the prevailing food security framework usually neglects more profound issues connected to power dynamics, sustainability, and local governance (Clapp, 2021), which are pivotal to the alternative framework of food sovereignty (the inherent right of communities to determine their own food systems) (Patel, 2009; Wittman et al., 2017). This investigation seeks to fill the significant void in comprehending the potential conflicts and synergies between the market-oriented approach of SADP and the principles of food sovereignty within the context of Lesotho, particularly considering the conspicuous absence of explicit food sovereignty considerations in national policy. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the analytical relevance of the food sovereignty framework in elucidating the lived realities, perceived opportunities, and challenges encountered by farmers participating in the SADP as they navigate pathways toward sustainable food security. Utilising an interpretivist paradigm alongside a qualitative case study methodology (Yin, 2018), the study focuses on farmers affiliated with SADP farmers operating within selected agricultural value chains in the Maseru district of Lesotho. The collection of data primarily hinges on comprehensive, semi-structured interviews, augmented by pertinent document analysis. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2021) serves to interpret the perspectives of farmers on essential dimensions of food sovereignty, encompassing autonomy, control over resources (including land, seeds, and knowledge), ecological sustainability, market dependencies, and overall empowerment within the SADP framework. The investigation of these experiences through the perspective of food sovereignty, the study explores the intricate ways in which market integration influences farmer agency and the potential common and uncommon grounds between SADP interventions and the transformative aspirations of food sovereignty. The anticipated results are expected to yield important empirical insights into the discourse related to food security and food sovereignty (e.g., Hospes & Brons, 2016; Patel, 2009), provide policy-relevant considerations for Lesotho in relation to sustainable and stable agricultural development, and inform development practitioners who seek interventions that genuinely empowers smallholder farmers.