WFP targets 35 schoolsin school-feeding project

World Food Programme (WFP) is set to embark on a school-feeding programme targeting 35 primary schools in Nkhata Bay District.

The three-year project dubbed Homegrown School Meal Programme under Tsogolo Lathanzi Phase II is also targeting 10 early childhood development centres (ECDs) in the district.

Speaking on Friday during a presentation on the programme to Nkhata Bay District Executive Committee members, WFP monitoring and evaluation officer Jason Nyirenda said they seek to ensure that primary and pre-primary boys and girls have nutritious and diversified diets throughout the school calendar.

He said this will motivate children to stay in school and learn better while improving food security and boosting agriculture production and market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

“The project is designed to provide children in school with safe, diverse and nutritious food that is locally sourced mainly from smallholder farmers.

“This way we will maximise benefits for smallholder farmers by linking schools to local food production.”

Ministry of Agriculture deputy director for food and nutrition Silvia Mapanje said the project will not only improve school attendance, but also learners’ nutrition status.

She said: “The programme will relieve acute hunger, knowing that the country experiences food shortage in lean periods.

“So, the project will ensure that learners have a meal; hence, reducing malnutrition cases in the district.”

Mapanje, however, highlighted the need for the government to remain committed in supporting the project and lobby for more resources to expand it to other schools in the country.

Nkhata Bay district social welfare officer MacSencie Chagomerana said government is emphasising on Nurturing Care Framework that focuses on helping children to transform to achieve their potential.

With funding from the European Union, Malawi Government and WFP are implementing the project in the district.