ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CROP PRODUCTION IN LESOTHO: A HOUSEHOLD-BASED PROGRAMMING APPROACH BY

I hereby certify that, unless specifically indicated to the contrary in the text, this dissertation is the result of my own original work. None R. Mokitimi i Agriculture in Lesotho is a key sector and a major source of employment within the country, with approximately 85 percent of the population living in rural areas. Crop farming is characterised by a high proportion of subsistence farming with most production being kept for home consumption. Lesotho's agriculture has shown declining production despite government intervention in the form of area-based development projects and massive international aid. Approximately 40 percent of Lesotho's male labour force is, at any time, engaged in employment in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) as migrants. Migrant workers ' remittances account for approximately 50 percent of GNP. Agriculture as the main source of income has decreased substantially while dependence on migrants ' remittances and foreign aid has increased