Lesotho is a mountainous country with four main agro-ecological zones, with most of the population living rurally and relying on subsistence farming and livestock. Climate data is lacking in the remote highlands where herding occurs. Developing adaptation plans is challenging due to lack of climate data and infrastructure in the inaccessible highlands, but solutions include using remote sensing to fill data gaps and forming community associations to disseminate early warnings.

1. LESOTHO'S EXPERIENCE
MOKOENA FRANCE
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND METEOROLOGY
NAP EXPO 2019
ADAPTATION PLANNING IN THE MOUNTAINS

2. Agro-ecological zones of Lesotho
Moeletsi et al., 2013
Introduction
• Mountainous country with
lowest point of 1.4km above SL
• Four Agro-Ecological Zones
• Highlands (HL - 59%),
lowlands (LL – 17%),
Foothills (FH-15%) and
Senqu River Valley (SRV –
9%) – LMS (2013)
• Population ~ 2m (BOS, 20016)
• 77% - live in rural areas
• 80% - live on agric activities

3. Type of farming system
Subsistence farming (90%)
Major cropping season (Oct-April) -
Rainfed
Crops (maize, wheat, sorghum)
Wheat – HL but winter crop –LL
Introduction
0
5
10
15
20
25
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Rainfall(mm)
Average Rainfall Mean average Temperature
Temperature(°C)
Summer Cropping Season
85% of ann. rainfall
Livestock (goats, sheep,
cattle)
Kept in the highlands –
pastures (P.K. Thornton et al.,2007)
vertical transhumance (Dejene et
al., 2011)

4. 24/04/2019
Drought
Heavy
Rains Hailstorm
s
Early
frost
Late
Onset High
Temps
Snow in
summer
Reduce
d winter
snow
CLIMATE
EXTREME
EVENTS

5. CHALLENGES – NAP DEVELOPMENT IN
MOUNTAINS
✓ Unavailability of climate data in the highlands
✓ Safety of stations
✓ Places are inaccessible by car yet are rangelands
✓ Need for higher resolution projections
✓ For early warning system:
✓ No electricity for radio/TV/charging phones
✓ Limited mobile network connection
✓ Traditional/Cultural believes/practices

6. SOLUTIONS – NAP DEVELOPMENT IN
MOUNTAINS
✓ Unavailability of climate data in the highlands
Use Reanalysis data and remote sensing methods
✓ Need for higher resolution projections
find/develop high resolution RCMs
✓ For early warning system:
✓ No electricity for radio/TV/charging phones
✓ Limited mobile network connection
Form Associations, Gatherings
✓ Traditional/Cultural believes/practices
Awareness raising through discussion forums [public,
traditional, community, religious and political leaders]

7. THANK YOU
Mokoena FRANCE
Lesotho Meteorological Services
Email:mokoenaf@gmail.com
Phone:+266 2232 4376 / +266 5907 0225