• The school feeding program is currently being implemented in 70 districts.
• The program is benefiting 1.9 million pupils.
• Ministry of Education is encouraging promotion of nutrition education.

Ministry of Education says it has disbursed over K20 million for the procurement of maize in 61 districts to support Home-grown school feeding programs.
Speaking during the launch of the African Day of School Feeding which falls on 1st March annually, Minister in charge Douglas Siakalima said the school feeding program is currently being implemented in 70 districts in all 10 provinces of the country, benefiting 1.9 million pupils.
Dr. Siakalima explained that Home-grown school feeding programs link local agriculture production by smallholder farmers to schools as alternative markets, thereby boosting the local economy.
He revealed that the Ministry is also developing school menus and dietary guidelines to provide guaranteed demand for healthy and nutritious food from farmers, thereby increasing the availability of nutritious food.
“African Day of School Feeding marks the commitment of African countries to promote Home-grown school feeding programs as a key strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
“The day seeks to bring together stakeholders from the public, private, civil society and multilateral organizations to raise awareness on the importance of school feeding, to take stock of the progress made, and stimulate political support for the adoption, implementation and promotion of school feeding policies, programs and resources,” Mr. Siakalima said.
Dr. Siakalima further stated that in the last quarter of 2021, his Ministry rolled out decentralized procurement as a strategy of sourcing food for the school feeding program.
He added that strategy is creating a steady market, promoting local agriculture and forming rural economics, as well as strengthening local food systems.
“This year’s theme provides the country an opportunity to further mainstream nutrition in the home-grown school feeding program which is being implemented in 70 districts in all 10 provinces of the country reaching 1.9 million learners.”
“In this regard, my Ministry has disbursed more than K20 million for the procurement of maize in 61 districts. My Ministry has also embarked on developing school menus and dietary guidelines to provide guaranteed demand for healthy and nutritious food from farmers, thereby increasing the availability of nutritious food not only for schools but for the entire communities,” he explained.
And Mr. Siakalima disclosed that his Ministry is encouraging promotion of nutrition education and healthy environments in learning institutions through production units and integrated school health and nutrition strategies.
“Schools are supported to establish gardens not only to produce a variety of fresh vegetables but being used for agricultural skills transfer and imparting nutrition knowledge into the learners. The schools are being transformed into the centres of Excellence to raise knowledge and awareness on the importance of consuming healthy and nutritious diets,” Mr. Siakalima said.
Zambia has today joined the rest of the Continent in commemorating the African Day of School Feeding under the theme: Nutrition and Human Capital Development in Africa through increased investment in Home-Grown School Feeding.