At Least more than 2 500 vulnerable households from various villages in Quthing have received wheat grain during the ongoing two-week distribution of wheat carried out by District Disaster Management Authority (DMA) office.

The wheat grain purchased from Basotho farmers is government action to support food insecure households, and provide the farmers with a market for their crop production.

In an interview, the District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Mrs. 'Manaha Posholi highlighted that the wheat grain distribution, targeting more than 3000 beneficiaries from areas along Senqu River Valley is government' s effort to support to vulnerable families during this period in which it has declared state of food insecurity since July.

Mrs. Posholi said each household receives 25 kg of wheat grain, adding that wheat grain distribution complements government cash for work projects that has been implemented by the government in response to food insecurity.  She said the cash for work project covers food insecure households from both mountain areas and Senqu River Valley.

The DDMO said six councils of Quthing have villages along Senqu River Valley and those in the mountains, hence wheat grain beneficiaries are from all the councils namely Mjanyane, Qomoqomong, Tosing, Telle, Mphaki and Quthing Urban.

The wheat grain distribution carried out by members of the District Disaster Management Team (DDMT) has covered beneficiaries from more than 15 distribution points that include; Seforong, Kubung, Phahameng, Mjanyane, Alwan'skop, Pokane, Ha-seletara Danyele, Liqala, Moyeni and Cocobe is expected to be completed on Friday this week.

The food insecurity declaration by the Prime Minister followed the 2023-24 Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee (LVAC) report , which revealed that  Quthing has more than 33 000 people who are food insecure.