Land Strategies and Livelihood Dynamics in Peri-urban Communities: Challenges to Land and Agricultural Policy in Lesotho

Abstract

This article explores land strategies and livelihoods dynamics in peri-urban communities in Maseru, Lesotho, and state policy on land and agriculture. Despite the restrictions imposed by the Land Act of 1979 on transaction of agricultural land, households engage in vernacular rural land sales and rental markets, and have converted agricultural land for alternative livelihoods. The article stresses the importance of households’ behaviour in redefining land needs, value and livelihoods. It concludes that these demonstrate how land strategies have adjusted to the reality that farming for all but a few individuals, is not sustainable in Lesotho, and that the situation poses serious challenges to the country's land and agricultural policies.