GSFP–OFSP Pilot meals Program Launched in Kumbungu

By: Saaka Alhassan, Kumbungu

The Ghana School Feeding Programm (GSFP) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in Collaboration with the International Potato Center (IPC) have launched the Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) incorporation into the Ghana School Feeding Programme at the Tibung Primary School in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region.

The International Potato Center (CIP) which is leading the effort through a project dubbed "Jumpstarting Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato, integrated school feeding into its activities to encourage healthy feeding and nutrition through pupil to their various households.

The project is to develop "Sustainable and inclusive market-driven approaches for orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) and to increase incomes, and improve health through consumption of vitamin A rich OFSP, especially in women and children".

Over 1000 pupils at Tibung and Dalun-Kukuo-Nawuni are expected to be served with about 100 grams of orange-fleshed sweetpotato weekly.

Dr. Erna Abidin, Project Manager for Jumpstarting, speaking at the launch said until recently, it was not well known that the orange-fleshed sweetpotato was so nutritious and could have a huge nutritious benefit and food security.

She indicated that with concerted efforts of awareness creation and market development, it can become something that is widely grown and easy to find in the market.

District Chief Executive for Kumbungu, Alhaji Alhassan Musah commended the Ghana School Feeding Program and the International Potato Center as well as the stakeholders for their efforts.

He pledged to encourage caterers under the GSFP to prepare it for the school children since it help reduce vitamin-A deficiency amongst children.

The DCE said the introduction of the crop into the district has availed farmers the opportunities to generate more income than before. He therefore encouraged them take up the challenge to produce more of the sweetpotato since they are assured of ready market.

Mrs. Getrude Ananse-Baiden, Ghana Programmes Manager Partnership For Child Development (PCD), in an address said for PCD as an organization that focuses on the nutrition of children, their interest is to ensure that children benefit from nutritious meals that would enhance their health, physically and intellectually which would eventually improve their cognition to achieve better educational outcomes to become better Future leaders.

She also reiterate that the initiative will be creating income and wealth in communities as school feeding becomes an additional market for farmers.

Mrs. Getrude Ananse-Baiden expressed the hope beneficiaries will accept the initiative and give it their utmost support. She assured that if that happen they will scale up the initiative to more districts and schools.

The Jumpstarting Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato in West Africa through diversified markets, referred to as Jumpstarting Project, is a three years project implemented by the International Potato Center (CIP) with funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The project started in April 2014 and is being implemented in three West African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria. In Ghana, it is piloted in Tolon and Kumbungu districts of the Northern region where as in the Upper East Region; it is in the Kasena Nankana, Garu, Binduri, Pusiga, Bawku municipal, Bolga, and Bawku West districts.

Saaka Alhassan

News Editor