Obstacles to the profitable production and marketing of horticulture products in Lesotho: an offset-constrained probit modelling of farmers’ perception - Institutional Constraints to Small Farmer Development in Southern Africa - page 165

to determine the probability that farmers' perception about the profitability of horticulture
production would be influenced by a set of institutional factors. There is evidence that more
analysis is required on the existing data as well as new information that need to be obtained
to have a more objective basis for making definitive statements about the role of institutions
in the current state of the horticulture sub-sector in Lesotho.
However, there is enough information to conclude that property rights, especially in respect
to land ownership and distribution, is a crucial factor in the way farmers see the potential of
the horticulture production in the country. It is equally clear that farmers consider that the
extension service and the condition of their infrastructure in general, and in particular the
physical infrastructure, deserve some attention. These findings are consistent with views that
are widely held both in the country and among the international development community.
Policy to address them should therefore be part of a comprehensive national development
effort linked to the on-going national vision process. In the case of the land ownership
question, it is necessary to recognize the important customary dimensions and proceed with
caution in order to bring about change that is at once sustainable and also popular.
The promotion of homestead gardens has been proposed at various levels. The contention
is that this would contribute immensely to combating the widespread poverty, growing
unemployment, HIV/AIDS, and weak and declining agricultural performance in the
country. Policy support for this will be crucial because homestead food production does
offer the possibility for marginal households with limited access to land to grow some
food for home consumption and also for sale. It is also possible to undertake year-round
production of the basic staples of vegetables on such gardens if support is provided to these
households for water supplementation such as through water harvesting.
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