The vision of Serumula is to achieve improved and sustainable livelihoods of rural people in Lesotho and the mission is to support, advocate for, promote and implement programmes of sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.

The main areas of work being developed and implemented by Serumula are:

•  Project management and process development in close cooperation with SMEs, NGOs, communities and farmer associations. Economic and social viability and aspects of sustainability and social justice are key principles.

•  The Machobane Farming System as a promising concept for resource poor small-scale farmers (intercropping, soil restoration, self-help, willingness). Currently, Serumula is focussing on three aspects: production training, marketing of surpluses and introduction of bookkeeping with model farmers. Close cooperation with MADF, RSDA and GROW.

•  Low Cost Drip Irrigation and other forms of affordable micro-irrigation. The basic idea is to develop and market devises based on marketing studies and driven by market forces. Main partners are: Maseru Pumps and Plastics and Ministry of Agriculture. In this venture individuals and farmer groups in the Semonkong, Phamong, Ketane and Botha-Bothe areas are trained in the use and management of Micro-irrigation devices. The process of testing has already been carried out in Mokhotlong and Bethel . Serumula has also carried out similar tests in the Ketane and Semonkong areas.

•  Seed Potato Promotion. This 8-Mio.Maloti market has a high potential for Lesotho-based enterprises and farmers mainly in the mountains of Lesotho . Serumula is a leading organization in the development of a future seed potato industry. Good cooperation and links with Semonkong Integrated Rural Development Communities, LHDA Mohale and the Marakabei Seed Farmers Association/ Ministry of Agriculture exist. Serumula coordinates the national Potato Group (secretariat).

•  Community Based Natural Resources Management/ Community Empowerment. A main component is the development of a community-based fair tourism initiative in the southern mountains (Quthing), with involvement of 14 communities, a local development trust (QWDT, and private sector (B&B, tour operators). Helvetas/Serumula organized a post-WSSD "Cross Border Ecotourism Event", which can be considered as a successful test of a business concept. Synergies with local medicinal plant know-how/production, community driven land-use planning and district networking is encouraged.

•  Organizational Development / Management Development. Helvetas/Serumula has gained a lot of experience in this field, applied in large governmental units (Reengineering and change management of Department of Rural Water Supply or DRWS with over 250 staff), NGOs (GROW, RSDA, MADF), local vocational schools (TSC), CBOs (QWDT), farmer/community associations and small-scale farmers.

•  Knowledge Management and Learning. A key strategy is to enhance learning processes and to promote internal learning (adult education). Information & Communication Technologies are extensively used and global, regional and national networking applied. After-Action learning and process analyses is fed in the continuos knowledge management. Serumula is linked with the Helvetas knowledge base (Intranet), benefiting from experiences and resources in all major parts of the world (Helvetas is operating in over 20 countries, see: www.helvetas .ch ).