By Rethabile Nchee
The Department of Agricultural Research under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition in Lesotho has engaged the services of Africa Innovations Institute Consultancy to conduct institutional reform for the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) so that it attains the semi-autonomous status. The project is designed to address the overall weaknesses of DAR including the country’s NARS which has undermined its efficient and effective contribution to the achievement of the desired growth of the agricultural sector. The key weaknesses that have led to this engagement include institutional weaknesses of the DAR, weak linkages between research, extension and farmers.
This institute arrived in Lesotho for their first leg of the consultancy assignment and met with the Management of the Department of Agricultural Research. The Meeting was attended by the Director, APPSA Project Manager and the Chief Research Officers. The Africa Innovations Institute team composed of the team leader Prof Otim-Nape, Dr. Fred Wahitu and Mrs. Suzan Bingi.
The Firm has been engaged to assist the Department of Agricultural Research in developing documents in preparation of the semi-autonomy of DAR. These documents include:
- Agricultural Research Policy
- Agricultural Research Strategy
- Research Agenda
The assignment is expected to lead to the establishment of a semi-autonomous National Research Institute/Council to address the desire of the Government of Lesotho to have an agricultural research system that responds to the needs of stakeholders and contributes to poverty alleviation as well as drive economic growth.
While in Lesotho, the institute held meetings with different stakeholders such as Farmer Associations, Sister Departments and Ministries as well as Development Partners to get their views on the operations of the Department and the intended move to semi-autonomous. They also met with the researchers at the DAR, Lesotho Agricultural College (LAC) and the National University of Lesotho (NUL) who are considered as the Lesotho NARS. Before the end of this first leg, the institute held a stakeholder’s one-day workshop where it gave a report on the findings of the stakeholder consultative meetings.
The author is the Chief Research Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and also a CCARDESA ICKM Focal Point person for Lesotho
