Lesotho

Cumulative rainfall in the last three months has been below-average, as the country received for this period ca. 35% below-average amounts. Temperatures during the last month have been average in the eastern part and slightly above-average in the western part. Crop conditions are water stressed in the southwestern part of the country, where minor-cereal producing areas are located (Figure: Agricultural map of the RSA, source: University of Texas, USA, 2005). In the northern areas, where the main cereal-producing areas are, crops seem to have received adequate water. As of 20 February, crop and rangeland conditions are good across the country. The Copernicus C3S Multimodel seasonal rainfall forecast for March 2025 points to above-average rainfall conditions across the country. According to the latest
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, released in February 2025, “between January-March 2025, approximately 335,000 people (22 percent of the rural population) are expected to be in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis)”.