The World Food Programme has implemented a number of initiatives that seek to improve food security and sustain school feeding programs in the semi-arid regions of Nyatike Sub County. Of the many interventions, the most outstanding is the introduction of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes to supplement school meals. The drop-out reduction system has greatly reduced child drop-outs in Nyatike, a sub-county in Migori County, which has a dropout rate of 10-15 percent, and increased learner retention.
Dropout of children in Nyatike has been mainly due to the absence of school feeding programs, hence forcing children to provide labor to support their families. As a response to this, WFP has introduced OFSP in BL Tezza Special School, training both teachers and parents on various food products derived from these nutrient-rich potatoes.
WFP official Judy Ndung’u has been touting the benefits of OFSP enriched with vitamin A for proper child development. Ndung’u further emphasized that OFSP is drought-tolerant, hence can perform well in farming in Nyatike and the larger Migori region.
Introduction of OFSP is not limited to the provision of nutritious meals but also improvement in agricultural education, crop diversification, and enhancing good eating habits among learners. This operation further supports behavior change in society in regard to crop production.
Welcoming the OFSP programme, Millicent Kasienes, Director of BL Tezza Special School, said the schools in the district are largely dependent on farming to feed their students. The school has constituted a working partnership with the Farm to Market Alliance, the International Potato Center and WFP to ensure the sustainability of the school feeding program.
According to the CIP official, Sammy Agili, the OFSP variety has also been introduced in Awendo and Kuria Sub Counties with the aim of bettering the economic welfare of such communities. This drought-tolerant OFSP will also reach regions like Wajir, Garissa, and Tana River, known for their harsh and semi-arid conditions.