In addition, whatever food farmers are able to produce has to be stored properly. The World Food Programme (WFP) says: “Many smallholder farmers lose a significant percentage of their produce due to poor storage facilities and poor storage techniques. Crops rot or are stolen.” WFP helps farmers to improve storage facilities through the Purchase for Progress initiative.
The more support the farmer receives, the better for the whole community and country. The farmer can begin to become the supplier for local food aid programs. Every country, for instance, needs to have a national school lunch program to fight child hunger and poverty. Small farms can play their role.
The World Food Programme announced a $2 million donation from Brazil to supply the school feeding program in Haiti with locally produced food. This is part of a strategy to help the small farmer in Haiti while strengthening the national school lunch program.
WFP is currently feeding Haitian kids in summer feeding programs. When school starts again, they plan to reach 800,000 Haitian children and with the Brazil donation, more of that food will be coming from small farmers within the country. Kids will receive the nutrition they need to grow and prosper during their education. Local farmers can expand their own business and be uplifted from poverty.
School gardens also play an increasing role in supporting school feeding, and provide an educational tool for the whole community about agriculture. Molly Slotznick of WFP reports: “In Liberia, to accompany the school feeding activities, WFP has, with the support of the EU Food Facility, established school gardens that are managed by the Parent/Teacher Associations. The food from the gardens supplements the normal school feeding rations, and it also provides a site for parents, teachers, and students to learn about nutrition and gardening practices.”
When the small farmer prospers, communities, children and others do as well. Yummy fruits and vegetables do more than just taste good.
Article comments
1 - Jean Serge Picard
This is pure propaganda to attract more funds from donors. I am a farmer in Haiti and I can assure you that WFP, CRS and the rest are destroying local incentives and driving the peasants out by flooding the country with cheap imported foods.