Government To Start Feeding Pupils In Schools As Drought Bites: Here Is What Children Will Eat

The Government has announced that it will start feeding pupils in schools this July to counter the effects of the El Nino-induced drought.

The Hunger Situation In Zimbabwe

The country is experiencing a drought after receiving low rainfall during the 2023/2024 season. Eighty per cent of Zimbabwe received below-normal rainfall even though farmers ploughed 1.72 million hectares under maize and other cereals.

The Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee Report of 2023 pointed out that 2.7 million Zimbabweans would be food insecure from April 2023 to March 2024. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that 6 million people are expected to be food insecure during the 2024-2025 lean season (January to March). The UN agency also said that about 1.7 million people living in urban areas will be food insecure this year.

Government Feeding Pupils Schools — *Government To Start Feeding Pupils In Schools [Image: AP/Reuters]*

In response to impending hunger, the government will distribute 448,350 tonnes of grain to households from July to March next year. From July to September this year, food-insecure individuals will receive 7.5 kg per person per month. From October this year to March next year, the amount will increase to 8.5 kg per person per month, The Herald reports.

Food-insecure people in urban areas will get money via transfer each month to buy a 10kg bag of meal meal per person.

ALSO READ: Government Distributing Food In Rural Areas As Drought Looms: Here Is What You Need To Know

Government To Start Feeding Pupils In Schools

The Government will also start the schools feeding scheme this month. It has allocated a 121 483-tonne grain supply, and the scheme will run until April 2024.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro spoke on the schools feeding scheme:

“We want school pupils to get one hot meal per day; this is critical to the learning and development of our children. Let’s cooperate with parents to avert the challenges of hunger. Parents should cooperate and supplement the food. We encourage parents to complement the Government’s efforts by providing labour and relish to ensure the smooth flow of the programme. The government is providing grain and dry foods such as soya chunks and beans.”

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