LESOTHO COMPETITIVENESS AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION PROJECT
(LESOTHO HORTICULTURAL INCUBATION & TRAINING CENTRE)
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
FOR
INCUBATION OF LESOTHO DECIDUOUS FRUIT FARMERS
The Government of Lesotho, through the World Bank financed Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project, is supporting the establishment of the Lesotho Horticultural Incubation and Training Centre (LHITC), located at Mahobong in Leribe district, with the objective of scaling and replicating existing deciduous fruit commercial orchards and attracting new investments into the horticulture sector.
The pilot farms established under the first and second World Bank–financed Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Projects (PSCEDP) have successfully demonstrated the commercial potential to produce deciduous fruits in Lesotho for both the domestic and export markets, and there is already significant interest from investors in commercial horticulture.
However, these investments can only be realized with a coordinated effort to address land administration challenges including the availability of land parcels of adequate size for commercial-scale production and adopting a transparent leasing system to achieve a credible land ownership. There is also a need for coordinated infrastructure investments in irrigation, electricity, roads, packhouses, phytosanitary inspection systems and grading, and private–public partnerships to deliver effective training and skills, and impactful extension services. It is against this background that the Government of Lesotho has established the Lesotho Horticultural Incubation and Training Centre.
The LHITC is in an existing facility which is owned by the National University of Lesotho (NUL) and it is adjacent to the two existing pilot commercial farms. The Centre is operated in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, and the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
The objective of LHITC is to provide support for scaling commercial horticulture farming in Lesotho, building on the experience of the current pilot commercial farms and addressing gaps in the value chain, access to suitable land, infrastructure, extension services, skills, finance, and markets while promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
The LHITC is currently incubating the first cohort of 7 deciduous fruit farmers.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The CAFI Project Management Unit now invites farmers and companies to indicate their interest to participate in the second cohort of the full horticultural incubation program of deciduous fruit. Interested farmers should provide information demonstrating that they meet the eligibility criteria below.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Applicants (individual farmers or registered companies) must have:
- Access to suitable land of 3 ha, owned or rented for at least 30 years if rented, with proof of land ownership documents in the name of the farmer or registered entity.
Acceptable documents: Form Cs, Leases, or Subleases.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition must confirm the land size. - The site must be close to a reliable source of quality irrigation water adequate for irrigating a 3ha orchard.
- Access road linking the site with the main road, in good condition and not longer than 2 km.
- The orchard site must be less than 0.5 km to electricity supply or other sustainable power sources for irrigation and orchard functions.
- The company must be a formally registered entity.
- The registered company must submit a CV of the Managing Director of the entity.
Additional considerations:
- Experience in commercial farming is an added advantage.
- Suitable sites located within 50 km radius from LHITC at Mahobong, Leribe district will be prioritized.
Format of EOI Submissions
Applicants should include at least the following:
- Entity information (name, address, cell phone, working email, website if any; Project Manager if different).
- Certified copies of land ownership documents.
- Proof of hectarage from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition.
- Description of the location of the intended orchard site.
Further information and suitability maps can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08h00 to 16h30 (local time).
Submission of Expressions of Interest
Expressions of interest must be delivered in sealed envelopes labelled:
“Incubation of Lesotho Deciduous Fruit Farmers”
EOIs must be submitted in person or by e‑mail on or before:
March 31, 2026 at 16h00
Email submissions should be sent to:
[email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Submission Address
Managing Director
Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project
1st Floor ‘Matanki House
P.O. Box 747
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel.: (+266) 22 315 100