Lesotho

Caption: Interactive map presenting country specific data, including universities and incubators contacted for the study and the digital innovations identified at the time of the study

Full Country Report (PDF)

Lesotho Ranked 9 out of 16 Countries in the Benchmark

The benchmark assessment reflects the extent to which Lesotho is unlocking positive pathways towards a digital economy and supporting a vibrant ecosystem of different actors.  

Caption: Results from Benchmark Assessment for Lesotho

Lesotho ranked 9 out of 16 in the benchmark assessment which suggests that it has some key foundational pillars necessary for a robust digital economy. 

Lesotho ranked in the middle for all pillars except digital government (which identifies the presence and use of digital services and platforms to enable public service delivery) where it ranked 12.

Caption: Overall Benchmark Assessment Results and Rank for all SADC member states

For further information on the benchmark results and regional trends please read the Situational Analysis Report.

Digitalization Has Not Been Embraced within the Agricultural Systems of Lesotho

The benchmark assessment suggested that Lesotho’s digital economy is developing, and digitalization is being prioritized in policies and strategies. More needs to be done to incorporate emerging technologies and private sector engagement.

No specific sectoral strategy or policy on digitalization within agriculture was identified. Based on the baseline, digitalization has not been embraced within the agricultural systems of Lesotho, from a public sector perspective. 

The public sector should provide a clear agenda for digital agriculture which will improve productivity and efficiency of the sector. Without this agenda there is a risk that adoption and integration of digital solutions and technology by smallholder farmers will be limited.

Ten Innovations were Identified in Lesotho with the Most Common Providing Digital Advisory Services

All use cases were present in Lesotho: digital advisory, agri-digital financial services, digital procurement, agri e-commerce and smart farming. The most popular use cases were digital advisory, digital procurement, and e-commerce. 

Caption: Diagram illustrating number of identified innovations and their sub use case solutions.

Innovations in Lesotho are more tailored for the earlier stages of the value chain in terms of planning, input, access, and on-farm production. No innovations surveyed provided solutions for storage. 

Caption: Diagram illustrating number of innovations identified in each phase of the value chain.

Innovations targeted a wide range of outcomes: addressing poor access to markets, knowledge gaps, low productivity, and climate change. 

The major challenges faced when implementing technologies include a lack of digital literacy in their target customers, farmer uptake, behavior change and access to a device. 

Digital Agriculture Training and Skills Must Be Supported More in Education Institutions

Greater effort is needed to mainstream digital agriculture in Lesotho. 

Digitalization must be promoted to attract youth to work in agriculture. This will require greater capacity build and financing of digital agriculture in incubators and agricultural universities.

Better infrastructure is needed for both incubators and universities to develop their full potential. 

The Lesotho National Research and Education Network must be supported to play its role of providing all types of digital services for teaching digital agricultural training, digital agricultural entrepreneurship, and advanced research activities. 

Icons - credit to NounProject https://thenounproject.com/