Mill & Farm Projects

(formerly Labohang Morena)

This is an agricultural project where maize is grown on several acres of land leased from farmers who are too old or sick to farm.  The grain is milled at an Action Lesotho mill in Phukalla. The project supports vulnerable children and their carers by providing them with maize grown in the loaned fields. The farm project also employs up to ten people to work in the fields planting, hoeing, weeding and harvesting the maize.

The project aims to develop a sustainable model of farming which can be replicated in other areas of Lesotho. Advisors to the project include Brian Flaherty, who works for the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, and Hans Taljaard, an agricultural advisor in South Africa.

Action Lesotho has recently acquired a new piece of land and relocated the mill to this site at Phukalla (where Action Lesotho has also built an Enterprise Centre). This has allowed the mill facilities be be improved and expanded (see progress photos below). The mill project is self financing and employs a miller 3-4 days per week. 

Initial programmes were supported by the Bantry Golden Girls. The purchase of the new land in 2011 was funded by IMPACT, an Irish Trade Union, and the projects is currently being supported by Irish Aid.

Action Lesotho are currently trying to source a new sprayer and new sower for the tractor as the equipment surrently being used is old and unreliable. Funding is also required to build a new grain store.

New mill under construction (April 2011)

Old mill in operation (2010)