Mbabane – The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), has announced the introduction of a new commodity canned sardine fish to neighbourhood care points (NCPs) supported under the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Support Programme.
The move aims to strengthen nutrition and food security for children who depend on meals provided at these community sites.
To ensure a smooth rollout, the ministry and WFP recently organised a tasting and cooking demonstration where caregivers and NCP staff prepared and sampled dishes made with the sardines.
The practical session focused on simple, nutritious recipes that are easy for caregivers to replicate when preparing meals for children at NCPs. Organisers said the demonstration served two main purposes: to familiarise caregivers with the product and to test recipes that meet nutritional needs while being acceptable to local tastes.
Ensuring the sardines meet standards of nutrition, food safety and community acceptance is a key step before wider distribution begins. Caregiver training and hands-on demonstrations are expected to help NCPs incorporate the new commodity into existing meal plans with minimal disruption, while maximising the nutritional benefit for children.
By introducing a protein-rich option like canned sardines, the programme intends to provide a cost-effective way to improve daily diets for vulnerable children.
The Ministry and WFP extended their gratitude to everyone who participated in the tasting and shared expertise during the rollout activities and said they will continue to work with communities to monitor acceptance and impact as distribution expands.
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