Matsapha – Childhood malnutrition is quietly robbing thousands of Eswatini learners of their ability to learn, concentrate and succeed in school, Taiwan’s representative warned on Wednesday as he called for greater consumption of traditional African vegetables to improve nutrition and educational outcomes.
Speaking during the 2026 Taiwan Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI) School Competition and Awards Ceremony at Gwamile Centre, Sofia Jeng said poor nutrition remained one of the biggest barriers to children’s development despite ongoing efforts to improve food security in schools.
She said chronic stunting, acute wasting and micronutrient deficiencies, commonly known as “hidden hunger”, were reducing classroom concentration, increasing absenteeism and contributing to poor academic performance among learners.
“Childhood malnutrition silently reshapes the landscape of learning, where physical deprivation directly compromises cognitive promise,” she said.
The embassy representative noted that vegetables are essential for human health, yet consumption across Africa, including Eswatini, remains among the lowest in the world, exposing children to preventable nutritional deficiencies.
She said the Taiwan Africa Vegetable Initiative was established to reverse that trend by promoting traditional African vegetables in schools and communities while equipping learners with practical gardening and nutrition skills.
The programme, now in its sixth year, has expanded from eight pilot schools to 42 schools across Eswatini, reaching about 25,000 learners every month. Through school gardens, nutrition education and partnerships with community farmers, learners are encouraged to consume fresh, locally produced vegetables both at school and at home.
Jeng said traditional African vegetables were not only part of Eswatini’s cultural heritage but were also highly nutritious, resilient to changing climatic conditions and capable of strengthening household food security.
She commended learners, teachers, school cooks and parents for embracing the programme, saying their commitment had helped cultivate healthier eating habits within communities.
During the awards ceremony, eNhlanhleni Primary School won the School Gardening Competition, while Siphenduliwe Sifundza of Majembeni Primary School took top honours in the School Cooks category.
Hlengokuhle Dlamini of Dlalsile Primary School won the learners’ public speaking competition, while Temahlubi Dlamini of Eqinisweni Primary School claimed first place in the learner quiz.
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