DILI, 16 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, suggested the Government invest in agriculture to improve the quality of food in the school feeding program.
The Head of State delivered his statement at a meeting between State entities, development partners, and children’s representatives, with the theme “Listen to our improvement to ensure and realize our rights”, at the Dili Convention Centre.
“The control of food safety and quality in the school provision program needs to be improved because children are not having enough healthy and nutritious food. School meals do not contribute to children’s growth and development,” said President at the meeting.
According to Horta, children have the right to have access to education with adequate infrastructure and equipment, and “all Timorese children are entitled to a program that allows them to develop physically and mentally”, Horta said concerning the school feeding program.
Horta recommended the Government invest in domestic sorghum and maize production saying, in his opinion, both are nutrients for health.
“Most people have eaten corn from the colonial period in Portugal. The government must support sorghum cultivation [so that the people can] make soup and process it into milk. Sorghum and corn have better nutritional quality than rice.”
Meanwhile, Technician and Trainer from the Ministry of Education, Dirce Maria Soares, once said, regarding the results of an investigation conducted by the Timor-Leste Hadomi Community and UNTL, sorghum is a nutritious food and rich in iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins. “Patients with heart problems and diabetes or malnutrition should consume it,” she said.
Journalist: Jose De Sa
Editor: Nelia B.
