Zambia adds milk to school feeding program to boost nutrition

ZAMBIA -The Zambia government has announced plans to integrate milk into its national school feeding program in a strategic move to bolster both child nutrition and the local agricultural economy.

The initiative, specifically targeting Early Childhood Centers, marks a significant expansion of the state’s effort to provide well-rounded, nutritious meals to the country’s youngest learners.

The announcement was detailed by Julia Malunga, the First Secretary for Press at the Zambia High Commission in Botswana, following remarks made by Dr. Kelvin Mambwe, the Permanent Secretary for Educational Services in the Ministry of Education.

Speaking at a forum focused on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Innovative Mechanisms, Dr. Mambwe emphasized that the decision is rooted in a commitment to enriching school menus with high-quality, bone-building nutrients essential for early development.

By partnering with private dairy processors and distributors, the government aims to leverage existing cold-chain infrastructure to ensure milk remains fresh and safe for consumption in various regions

To ensure the program’s sustainability, the government has officially allocated dedicated funding in the current national budget. However, rather than managing the logistics internally, the Ministry intends to engage the private sector to bridge the gap between farm and classroom.

Additionally, he stressed that the link between agriculture and education is critical and that school feeding should support local farmers and food systems through coordinated, multi-sectoral committees that oversee menus, logistics and implementation.

He added that the government is strengthening data systems to track food production capacities and programme performance, emphasizing that reliable information enables better planning, monitoring, and documentation of progress by government and partners.

Zambia dairy outlook

Zambia is on track to join the world’s top 100 milk-producing nations by the end of the year. Domestic production is projected to reach a milestone of 492,070 metric tons, representing a steady recovery from the climate-driven downturns of previous years.

This growth is being fueled by two distinct forces: the increasing efficiency of large-scale commercial “mega-farms” in the Mazabuka region and a massive genetic upgrade program for smallholder farmers.

The recent signing of a new Addendum to the flagship dairy agreement between Zambia and Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) marks a technical turning point.

By introducing high-yield Jersey cattle genetics, chosen for their superior heat tolerance and high milk-fat content, the partnership is transforming the productivity of smallholder herds.

This “genetic leap” is essential for a market where small farmers own the majority of cattle but have historically struggled to compete on yield.

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