ASSESSMENT OF THE LOGISTICS OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME IN CHANCHAGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The importance of logistics to the successful implementation of school feeding programme (SFP) cannot be overemphasised. It is on this premise that the study assessed the logistics involved in providing meals to students within the public primary schools in Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. The study covered activities such as sourcing of food, transportation, storage and distribution. Questionnaire and direct observation were used for data collection. Descriptive analytical method were used to analyse derived data. Findings revealed that crop grown by the network of local farmers within the State were the sources of food for the SFP. The food are locally sourced from all the 25 LGA in Niger State. Out of the 25 LGA in the State, rice is being sourced from 8 LGA which represents 32% while soya beans is being sourced from 5 LGA which represents 20% of the location where food is being sourced. Trucks were used by Local Farmers to transport raw food to Chanchaga LG Secretariat (distribution centre). Maikunkele being the proximate settlement to distribution centre, covers an estimated distance of 10km while Edati LGA being the farthest distance covers an average distance of 121km to the food distribution centre. The women (540) recruited as cooks (vendors) for the SFP were recruited from various communities where the benefiting public primary schools are located. Raw food are collected at the distribution centre by the cooks, transformed into cooked food in their individual homes and packaged in coolers for the feeding of the pupils based on the State Government approved feeding menu. The cooks live near the schools, hence, do not need to cover long distances in order to convey the food to the schools. Among the nine major constraints identified, corruption (M=4.39) and poor remuneration of cooks (M=4.25) were ranked highest while the least of the challenges to effective implementation of SFP in the State is political interference (M=3.21).The study recommends amongst others, that the State Government should provide better storage facilities to prevent spoilage and wastages of farm produces supplied by farmers within the locality.