Cambodia shifts to healthy school snacks ahead of 2028 meal programme handover

The development organisation iDE is working with local authorities in Cambodia to replace sugary treats and energy drinks with fresh, locally sourced food for school children.

This initiative aims to improve nutritional outcomes as the country prepares to take full responsibility for its school meal programme by 2028. The transition involves encouraging vendors to stop selling snacks of unknown origin and instead offer healthy options.

In Siem Reap province, Thong Bas prepares breakfast for 25 children at a communal preschool using vegetables and fruits from her home garden. She uses biological methods to manage pests and earns a small profit to cover family expenses and maintain her garden. Local businesses also play a role in the supply chain. In Battambang province, Man Hayat produces fish powder and vegetable crackers through her business, Hayat Fish Powder Enterprise.

She received a grant of more than $4,000 and business training to expand her production. She plans to sell her products in grocery stores, village shops, and public schools. The move addresses a public health challenge in Cambodia. A 2021 to 22 Demographic and Health Survey showed that 42 per cent of children aged 6 to 23 months received a minimum acceptable diet, a figure that drops to 35 per cent in rural areas.

The survey also found that about one in five children under five was stunted and one in 10 experienced wasting.