MORE than 120 households from the five villages of Lihlabeng in the Quthing Urban Council on Friday received and planted fruits and firewood trees in their respective areas.

The trees were donated by Standard Lesotho Bank.

Beneficiaries were drawn from villages including Thoteng, Tlhakoaneng, Thabong, Setanteng and Ha Liqa with each receiving one apple tree, two peach trees and two firewood trees.
Speaking at the event, the Quthing District Administrator, ’Mapaseka K'hesa encouraged the beneficiaries to protect the trees for their own benefit, adding that they will help improve their nutrition status and generate income from the fruits produced.
She pledged to work together with the beneficiaries in order to address their challenges such as lack of water in some villages.

Mrs K’hesa encouraged them to continue complying with COVID-19 protocols such as regularly washing their hands with running water and soap, maintaining social distancing and wearing facial masks.

The District Coordinator for Department of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation Keneuoe 'Nena said through the donated trees, the beneficiaries could extend the project to beekeeping and the production of hybrid fruit trees seedlings for income generation and job creation.

The department, she said is always ready to support the beneficiaries and entice people to engage in fruit tree planting, adding that beneficiaries should protect the project to invite more development partners with other projects to the area.