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New opportunities in school feeding

Tajikistan
From July 15 to 18, 2024, the city of Khujand hosted a series of important discussions on the implementation of the State Programme for the Development of School Meals. Key representatives from different ministries, departments, and international partner organizations convened to explore the progress of the ongoing school meal programmes and the targeted use of school plots in the Sughd region.

The working group of the Interdepartmental Coordination Council visited several schools to evaluate how the plots allocated to them are used for crop cultivation. The government strongly supports this initiative. For instance, the authorities in Istaravshan have allocated 82 hectares of land to schools for growing potatoes, onions, carrots, and fruits. After these visits, the working group provided recommendations for enhancing the organization of agricultural activities.

On July 18, the final meeting of the Interdepartmental Coordination Council on School Meals was held in Khujand. The discussions focused on current challenges, the financing of school meals, and the cultivation of school plots.

Deputy Minister of Education Dilshod Safarzoda announced that the budget for 2025 is currently being developed and it will include an updated list of schools eligible for meal funding.

He emphasized that, as an agricultural country, Tajikistan has the potential to encourage school farms to produce natural products, thus diversifying school menus with fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits directly from the garden.