Brief history
The Thaba Tsoeu Small Farmers Association was formed in 1995 and has 22 associations. It was registered in 2008 and started with 375 members, 106 males and 269 females. It was formed for crop production to prevent hunger and empowerment of the poor. Crops was sold to other farmers or other members of the community. The association organises fund raising activities. A yearly subscription of 150 is contributed. Members are found in the following community councils: ‘Mamants’o, Ts’anatalana, Makoabating, Thaba-Phechela le Qibing in Mafeteng district.

Vision
To overcome poverty through the production of grains, vegetables, poultry and horticulture through conservation agriculture.

Objectives

  • To practice sustainable farming through conservation agriculture.
  • To strengthen farmer associations and improve farmers voice.
  • To ensure that farmers have a prevailing stance in the community.

Current situation
Farmers have decreased to 230 members, 66 males, 164 females, then crop production     decreased. Farmers decreased because of drought, lack of climate change awareness. All farmers have their own land above 5 acres per farmer. All farmers were luckily trained on how to plough nutritious food by using organic manure. Each member produces 980kg+ of grain while poultry is available throughout the year.

Achievements
Farmers are able to collect water from their house with tanks build by the help of RSDA. Farmers are able to decrease expenses by using organic manure and ploughing conservation agriculture. Farmers are able to have vegetables round a year by using keyhole garden and recycle water used for household washing called grey water. Exchange visits have been offered to farmers.

Problems

  • Farmers are not planting in time.
  • Some farmers are not ploughing their fields.
  • Farmers are not using soil fertility technologies.
  • Farmers are not using crop rotation.
  • Uncontrolled animals.
  • Uncontrolled weed year round.
  • Degraded soils.

Solutions

  • To plant in time.
  • All community farmers must plough their fields.
  • We must use soil fertility technologies.
  • To control animals at our fields.
  • To control weeds year round.
  • Crop rotation or intercropping with legume.
  • Reduce soil and water erosion.
  • Feed soil with crop residues.

Future Prospects
For the next 5 to 10 years we hope to have minimised poverty and theft by providing jobs in and outside the community. We also hope to supply a number of large industrial factories and retail outlets with our produce.

Outstanding members

  • Ranthimo Thabaneng for conservation agriculture
  • Mokone Hloai for fodder production
  • ‘Mataemane for grains
  • ‘Malenka Mokoena for poultry

Contact
Secretary +266 5912 5461
Chairperson +266 5807 2030