Bio-diversity

For Lesotho, the loss of gene pool of indigenous chickens poses several significant problems such as lack of disease resistance of which those genes are available in indeginous chickens which are endangered and face extinction. Indigenous chickens, a significant buffer against poor nutrition and poverty reduction for subsistence farmers, have forage freely in villages without requiring expensive feed and building their immunity to most local diseases. The project aims to research and demonstrate the performance of indigenous chickens (true-to-type-Basotho chicken) under propoer management and to initiate breeding to sustainable levels. It is also meant to create awareness and add value to the importance of the indigenous chickens by government and wider Lesotho community. Indigenous chickens will be identified from various community areas in the country for breeding in a model model breeding farm in the vicinity of the target community at Ha Noosi - Mafeteng, one of the driest districts of Lesotho with high drought and environmental degradation risks and low soil fertility. The project will target vulnerable households and will adopt a pass-the-gift system.

Lesotho