SAME based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Ishinde Youth Initiative (IYI) in Kilimanjaro region has embarked on a special programme to provide food aid to various schools in the district.
IYI Director Mr Noel Kipesha said that the organisation’s decision aimed at enabling students to get lunch in their respective schools as directed by the government.
“We have heard some leaders warning people to preserve food following weather changes which have led to decreased rainfall in long and short rainy seasons …we have decided to donate food to the schools so that students can have their lunch,” he said.
Mr Kipesha said that the organisation’s leadership has already contacted leaders of various schools to find out their needs, noting that IYI will also communicate with district authorities in order to make the exercise successful.
He said school feeding programme is crucial because it increases students’ concentration and reduce absenteeism.
“IYI has decided to donate food to the schools to support the government efforts in improving learning environment in the country and improve performance,” he said.
“The price of most commodities has gone up, our decision to donate food items will also help the schools to reduce cost which could be incurred in purchasing food,” he said.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday regarding food situation in the district, Same District Commissioner (DC) Mr Edward Mpogoro said that lack of long and short rains has resulted to poor yields.
DC Mpogoro further said the situation has also caused prices of some food commodities to go up, giving an example of maize, whereby a 100kgs which was sold at 25,000/- has now increased to 100,000/- during harvest season.
He called on residents who have managed to harvest even low yields to make sure that they preserve food to be used in future.
“The district government has already assessed the food situation within the district and proposals have already been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture to see how the affected wards could be assisted, including providing them with low priced foods,” he said.
