Sindh (GNP): American-grown food is reaching school children in Pakistan’s Sindh province, where 258,000 pupils are receiving meals made from commodities bought from US farmers.
The effort runs through two projects of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) worth $80 million. Under them, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Save the Children are working with Pakistan to deliver the produce to classrooms across the province.
Funding for the two projects was announced last year as part of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education programme in Pakistan. The commodities now moving through the supply chain show what that money has bought.
In total, 20,610 metric tons of US-grown produce has been purchased from American farmers. The shipment includes wheat, vegetable oil, split peas, garbanzo beans and red beans.
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On the ground, the WFP and Save the Children are working with the Sindh government to get this food onto the plates of the children. The aim is simple, because hot meals give children a reason to attend school and stay in class.
The programme was also the subject of a recent meeting in Pakistan. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker met WFP Representative Anita Hirsch to discuss the McGovern-Dole Food for Education programme and how it is progressing.
The programme therefore serves two groups at once. It supplies meals for school children in Sindh, and it creates a market for the American farmers who grow the food.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
