News & Events

U.S. Government announces $31.4 million for Food for Progress Award to Strengthen Lesotho’s Poultry Sector.

Maseru Seal Maseru, Lesotho, October 30, 2023 – The Embassy of the United States in Maseru announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) award to Lesotho of $31.4 million for the Food for Progress (FFP) Program to enhance and fortify Lesotho’s poultry sector.

For decades the FFP program has been helping support efforts to improve agricultural systems and stimulate rural economies around the globe. Land O’Lakes Venture37 has been selected to implement the program in Lesotho, which will promote climate smart agricultural practices, improve food security, and foster economic growth. By providing crucial resources and technical assistance, the program will facilitate the establishment of sustainable market linkages, and enhance trade opportunities for Lesotho. This will be the first time Lesotho is a recipient of FFP funding.

The United States is deeply committed to ending hunger and malnutrition and building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems at home and abroad. The United States is the largest provider of international agriculture, economic development, and humanitarian assistance, and advances global food security and nutrition through efforts like USDA’s FFP and McGovern-Dole Programs. USDA works continuously to monitor and ensure the success of the programs, all while balancing funding allocations with current global nutrition needs.

As the world emerges from a global pandemic and faces the challenges of rising hunger and poverty, climate change, and the raging war on Ukraine, more than 190 million people worldwide experience acute food insecurity. The issue of food security has grown even more urgent, and the effects of food insecurity are widespread and devastating. When there is food insecurity, farmers lose their livelihoods. Parents spend hours every day trying to secure their family’s next meal. Hungry children struggle to learn, and they suffer irreversible health consequences. Already vulnerable populations are always hit hardest, and food insecurity also holds back broader economic growth and increases the risk of violent conflict and civil unrest. ###

For additional information, please visit:

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/09/21/usda-invests-nearly-half-billion-dollars-food-progress-and-mcgovern

https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/food-assistance