In an effort to address nutritional inadequacies among schoolchildren nationwide, around 32,000 pupils in 300 pilot schools chosen for the “One-Child, One-Egg” project will begin receiving one egg daily through the school food program this academic year. The program was inaugurated yesterday in the capital by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Dr. QU Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. By the first quarter of 2025, which coincides with the start of the school year, the FAO has allocated USD 2 million for the pilot project’s first phase before expanding it across the country.
Malnutrition is still a major problem in Bhutan, where 36.5 percent of teenage females are anemic, 8.7 percent are underweight, and 17.9 percent of children under five are stunted. Significant shortages in important minerals, such as vitamin D (96 percent), folate (53 percent), and ferritin (48 percent), were also found in kids in a recent research. Poor nutrition is connected to these inadequacies, which can result in immune system weakness, delayed growth, and impaired cognitive development. Many youngsters still do not have access to wholesome meals, despite continuous attempts. “Eggs, a nutrient-dense superfood rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, offer an affordable and effective solution to bridge these gaps,” said the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL).
