School Milk Feeding Program Reaches Out To 100,000 Students In 140 Schools -

By Senior Reporter VALENTINE OFORO

The Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) says it needs around 15bn/- to have the program implemented into needed scope, standards and intended duration.

A TOTAL of 100,000 students within 140 primary and secondary schools across the country are benefiting from the School Milk Feeding Program (SMFP) which is being implemented by the Tanzania Daily Board (TDB).

This was unveiled by the TDB’s Acting Marketing Manager, Mr. Joseph Semu when the state- owned Board made a special tour of Mbeya region to inspect progression in the implementation of the crucial program.

Mr Semu informed that the five- year initiative is currently covering eight regions, saying the plan is to extend it to a total of 500 schools across the country.

“Under this program, the plan was to start with at least 100 schools during a period of 2023/2024 whereby other 100 schools will be added every year for the five consecutive years of it implementation,” he expressed.

And the number of schools, according to him, is expected to increase from 125 to 625 schools by 2027, with the targeted beneficiary students are those aged between 4 to 19 years.

He added that the ongoing program is being executed in the Mbeya region through partnership with key dairy stakeholders, including the small-scale milk processors.

“In Mbeya, Rungwe and Busoleko councils the milk processors are now producing an average of 240,000 liters of milk in a day, making it possible to for the government to accomplish it goal to provide every student with a daily cup of milk,” he said.

Mr Semu detailed that as per the program’s rolling out, the students are distributed with the processed milk, either pasteurized, UHT, cultured milk or yoghurt depending on the availability and infrastructure of the area.

Furthermore, he said the quantity of milk supplied are of 150mls to 200mls produced, added the initiative was also working to sensitize and encouraging parents to contribute money in order to enable the program to survive.

“Implementation of this program plays a meaningful role to help spur school enrolment and reduce absenteeism whereby once the children are in schools, the program can also contribute to their learning through avoiding hunger and expanding their cognitive abilities,” he added.

Speaking for his part, Dr. Samora Mshang’a, the Mbeya regional Veterinary Officer, said they’re working several efforts to modernize dairy farming practices among the dairy farmers in the region, targeting to ensure the production of high-quality milk for schools.

” We’ll continue standing at forefront to collaborate with the TDB to educate the dairy farmers to improving milk production standards,” he informed.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiary students, a standard three student at Mwenge primary school, Reuben Fred, hailed the government and the TDB for implementing the program.

However, Fred underscored over the need for the Board to source more funds for supporting the program in order to have more students to benefiting according.

Acting Regional Nutrition Officer, Ms. Lightness Shibone, said for their part, they are continuing to engage the community to understand the benefits of the program, including to help fighting against malnutrition and stunting.

The Tanzania Dairy Board (TDB) says it needs around 15bn/- to have the program implemented into needed scope, standards and duration.

The five- year program, (2023-2028) incorporates a range of stakeholders from private and public sectors.

These include the President Office, (Regional Authority and Local Government), Prime Minister’s office, ministry of education, ministry of health, Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB).

Others are Tanzania Milk Processors and their association (TAMPA), Tanga Fresh Limited, ASA Dairies Limited, Shambani Milk, Profate Dairy, Nronga Women Dairy, Land O’Lakes Venture 37, Heifer International (Heifer Tanzania), Solidaridad, Nutrition Connect.

Records proves that in Tanzania school milk feeding programs started way back in early 2000s, and has involved different models (ways of implementation), whereby it reached a peak of 125 schools and 99,000 children in the recent past.

But despite the efforts, the vital program has been crippled with different handicaps in terms of coverage, access of dairy products to school children, as well as involvement of stakeholders.