Reaching Basotho Farmers Through CATI

Lesotho’s high-altitude landscape gives farming a very different character, with agriculture shaped by cold winters, limited arable land, changing rainfall and frequent drought. Rural households grow maize, wheat, sorghum, beans and vegetables, while livestock, particularly sheep, goats and cattle, remains an important source of food and income. These conditions make it important for agricultural programs to understand not only what farmers produce, but how weather, livestock, water and access to markets affect their livelihoods.

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) provides a practical way to gather that information beyond the farm visit. CATI Africa can connect researchers with farming and livestock households by phone, allowing them to collect timely feedback on crop production, livestock activities, access to agricultural services and the effects of changing conditions across Lesotho.

Supporting Agricultural Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

For agricultural research and M&E, CATI helps researchers and organisations to:

• Understand how farmers are adapting to drought and changing weather
• Track crop and livestock production in different rural areas
• Assess access to water, farming inputs, and agricultural support
• Monitor changes in household food supply and agricultural income

Lesotho's agriculture cannot be separated from its livestock economy. For many rural households, cattle, sheep, and goats provide important livelihoods alongside crop production. Telephone research allows organisations to capture both sides of this picture and understand how changes in crops, livestock, and household resources affect rural families.

Across Lesotho, organisations can use CATI for:

• Highland crop and livestock research
• Drought resilience and climate adaptation studies
• Wool and mohair livelihood research
• Rural food security and agricultural income assessments

CATI Africa supports agricultural research in Lesotho by giving organisations a practical way to maintain contact with farmers and livestock-owning households. Through professionally managed telephone surveys, we help development partners, government agencies, NGOs, agribusinesses, and research institutions gather evidence on farming conditions, rural livelihoods, and the impact of agricultural programmes.