An assessment of the usefulness of the concept of food sovereignty in achieving food security in Lesotho
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Date
0100
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National University of Lesotho
Abstract
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.