Kanchibiya District Commissioner, Chrispin Chilekwa, has commended farmer cooperatives in the area that are supplying maize to the District Education Board Secretary’s office for the school feeding programme.
Mr Chilekwa says the initiative is empowering farmers while ensuring that learners continue to benefit from the school feeding programme.
He was speaking when he addressed cooperative members in Mabale area in Kabinga Chiefdom, who had gathered to learn about the next steps in the programme
Mr Chilekwa said the decision to allow cooperatives to supply maize directly to schools through the District Education Board Secretary’s office would reduce transportation costs and ensure timely delivery of food to learners.
He said Government has responded to farmers who had experienced challenges in transporting maize to distant Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots.
“We are implementing the Presidential directive on the school feeding programme, and we are pleased that our local cooperatives can participate in this important initiative,” he said.
Mr Chilekwa said the arrangement would benefit both farmers and learners, as it provides a ready market for maize while ensuring schools had adequate food supplies.
Meanwhile, District Education Planning Officer, Moses Mwase, said the department is impressed with what they found on the ground.
Mr Mwase said the department is committed to ensuring the school feeding programme is executed efficiently across all schools in the district.
“We are happy with what we have found on the ground. We are grateful that the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises has organised itself,” he said.
Mr Mwase said the cooperation between various departments and cooperatives demonstrated the commitment to making the school feeding programme a success.
And District Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Inspector, Yona Kaonga, said the ministry was committed to linking cooperatives to suitable markets.
He encouraged cooperatives to be productive so that it would be easier to link them to viable markets.
Mr Kaonga said the school feeding programme presented a sustainable market opportunity for cooperatives in the district.
Meanwhile, Lulinga Ward Councilor, Abel Puka, said they were happy with the government’s intervention to purchase as much maize as possible from people in the ward.
He said the arrangement had brought relief to farmers who previously struggled with transportation costs to distant depots.
The Ward Councillor urged farmers to maintain quality standards in their maize production to ensure continued participation in the programme.
The Pic does not reflect the truth
Just dubious politicing