Thousands of poultry farmers in Lesotho are reeling from the abrupt cancellation of a $31.4 million United States-funded project that had promised to transform the country’s struggling poultry sector. The initiative, known as the Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises in the Poultry Sector (STEPS), was part of the broader American Food for Progress programme. It was launched in 2023 with the aim of reducing Lesotho’s overdependence on poultry imports by empowering small-scale local farmers.
The STEPS project was designed as a five-year programme to support over 28,000 poultry enterprises across seven key districts: Botha Bothe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, and Quthing. Within this period, the programme had projected a 40 percent increase in local chicken meat production and a 30 percent boost in egg output. This ambitious goal sought not only to improve food self-sufficiency in Lesotho but also to generate employment and uplift rural communities. However, barely two years into its implementation, the programme was discontinued without warning, leaving many farmers stranded.
Local partners and beneficiaries have expressed deep concern over the decision. The Rural Self-Help Development Association, a non-profit organisation that collaborated with the STEPS project, described the termination as a major blow to Lesotho’s food security and rural economy. The organisation noted that most of the affected farmers had invested their time and resources based on the project’s long-term vision, and many now face serious financial uncertainty.
Lesotho has historically relied heavily on neighboring South Africa for its poultry supply, importing over 80 percent of the chicken and eggs consumed in the country. The STEPS initiative was meant to reverse this trend by equipping local farmers with modern farming techniques, access to quality feed, and business training. Farmers had begun to see promising results, with some reporting improved productivity and access to local markets. The sudden halt has not only disrupted their progress but has also risked reversing the gains already made.
A consultative meeting with farmer representatives has been scheduled within the week to explore possible alternatives and solutions. Stakeholders hope to devise a strategy to sustain operations without foreign assistance, though the outlook remains uncertain given the scale of dependency on the programme.
Analysts attribute the project’s termination to broader cuts in US foreign aid, particularly under the policy shifts that began with the administration of former President Donald Trump. Several initiatives, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, have seen significant reductions in funding or restructuring, affecting many developing countries.
The abrupt end of the STEPS project has sparked wider debates in Lesotho about the sustainability of foreign aid and the need for homegrown solutions to agricultural challenges. As the country looks to rebuild its poultry sector from the disruption, there is a growing call for more resilient and locally driven interventions that can shield farmers from the volatility of international donor funding.
