DILI, 26 april 2024 (TATOLI) – Anita Hirsch, WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, accompanied by the President of the Authority of Bobonaro Municipality, Alexandre Pires, together with representatives of SECOOP and other partners, visited a sorghum farming plot in Maliana.
The visit was connected with WFP´s school feeding program and its support for the National and Local Government´s efforts to promote climate-resilient and nutritious food options in Timor-Leste.
During their visit, all actively engaged with the community, local sorghum farmers, and Timorese youth and, the president of Bobonaro municipality stressed the significance of sorghum as a crop with the potential to help farmers adapt to Climate Change and combine with rice as an additional staple for the school feeding program.
“The introduction of sorghum into school feeding will benefit children’s nutrition and encourage farmers to help develop the sorghum value chain by increasing productivity, strengthening household incomes and the local economy. Schools are and will become a significant market for the farmers,” said Hirsch.
As part of WFP’s commitment to promoting climate-resilient and nutritious food options, supporting sorghum production and consumption aims to close the loop in enhancing food security while improving the nutrition of schoolchildren and Changing Lives of Timorese people.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
