20/07/2025
Winter Turns Everyday Veg into Costly Commodity
By Motsamai Tjakata, Agricultural Economist
As winter tightens its grip on Lesotho, vegetable prices continue to climb, putting pressure on household budgets and local retailers. Persistent cold, weak local production, and rising import costs are pushing up prices for essential vegetables, particularly tomatoes and green peppers, which remain scarce and expensive.
What’s Driving the Price Increases?
• Reduced Local Supply: Cold weather and climate stress have limited domestic production, forcing reliance on imports.
• Rising Import Costs: Transport expenses and regional supply constraints are making imports pricier.
Lesotho: Price Changes in the Past Two Weeks
Vegetable Price (per kg) Change (%)
Tomatoes M22.00 +10%
Green Peppers M20.35 +12%
Potatoes M7.00 +8%
Onions M7.85 +9%
Cabbage M3.80 −5%
[Data from Lesotho Tribune, local market surveys, and author estimates.]
South African Market Prices
Cross-border supply remains an important buffer, though exchange rates apply:
• Cabbage: R2.85/kg (down 5%)
• Potatoes: R48.25/10 kg (down 5%)
• Onions: R68.90/10 kg (up 6%)
• Tomatoes: R15.40/kg (up 10%)
What This Means
• Local production remains low due to cold conditions and climate variability, increasing dependence on imports.
• Import costs are climbing amid higher transport and exchange-rate pressures.
• Wider inflation context: Food prices, especially vegetables, significantly contribute to headline inflation.
• Household impact: As essentials like tomatoes and peppers get pricier, low-income families bear the brunt.
What You Can Do
For Farmers:
• Shift to cold-tolerant crops such as cabbage, spinach, carrots, and beetroot.
• Employ season-extension strategies—plastic tunnels, greenhouses—to sustain production through winter.
For Retailers:
• Source bulk imports from South Africa when local stock is low.
• Anticipate continued shortages and price hikes in tomatoes and green peppers.
For Consumers:
• Choose more affordable vegetables currently in season (cabbage, beetroot, spinach).
• Budget for higher costs in staples like tomatoes and peppers.
Looking Ahead: Early August Forecast
• Tomatoes: Could rise 10–15% if imports remain constrained.
• Green Peppers: May climb another 12%.
• Potatoes and Onions: Likely to stabilize or drop slightly if more crosses from South Africa.
The next Market Report will be released on 1 August 2025.
