Partnering for better nutrition for school-going children
The home-grown school feeding (HGSF) programme is one of the ways in which Cambodia is working for better nutrition, in particular, safeguarding learners in schools from childhood stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. Sustaining the HGSF programme relies on continuous improvement in implementation of the programme, building robust value chains, building institutional capacities so that there is national ownership of the programme in the long-term, and empowering stakeholders to make use of HGSF opportunities for better nutrition and better production.
This is why the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the World Food Programme is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and under the Local and Regional Procurement (LRP) for Home Grown School Feeding in Cambodia initiative, to strengthen local agricultural value chain development and promote school food and nutrition.
As part of the initiative, in January 2024, FAO delivered training on Guidelines on minimum standards for food safety and quality in the HGSF programme to 377 stakeholders who are key to the provision of food for Cambodia’s HGSF programme. The guidelines provide standards on how to select, inspect and manage food safely at each stage, from the farm to the school gate. Having guidelines on standards and adhering to them is aimed at protecting the health of children and reducing food-related illnesses linked to eating at school. Training on the guidelines therefore allows those involved in the supply chain for the HGSF programme to do their part in making sure that school children are provided with safe food and nutritious meals.
Training participants included focal persons from the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sports, the District Agriculture Office, and the District Education Youth and Sports office, all of whom are central to ensuring the safety and quality of foods provided through the HGSF programme. The participants represented three provinces, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang and Siem Reap, which are targeted by the LRP project.
“Having trained stakeholders at the provincial level, they will then conduct a cascade training, this time reaching out to agriculture cooperatives, producer organizations, school directors, chefs, food suppliers for school feeding programs in the seven districts within these three provinces,” said Sereyvathana Hou, FAO Technical Advisor (Value Chains).
The cascade training is made possible through support provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture, or the Foreign Agricultural Service.