Sowing Seeds of Success

Veronika Misisi (35) is a smallholder farmer in the Kavango West Region of Namibia who participates in the World Food Programme’s (WFP) home-grown school feeding programme at the Mbandu Murangi Primary School. Veronika is one of 41 smallholder farmers from Kavango West region that are part of the home grown school feeding programme.

 Veronika sells her Mutete (Hibiscus Robella) to supplement meals at the school which uses locally grown produce from smallholder farmers to provide the children nutritious mid-day meals. Before joining the programme, Veronikastruggled to sell her produce and but now the school buys her produce at a fair price, allowing her to support her family, pay school fees, and buy seeds for the next season. 

This year, she expects to harvest over 14 bags (20kg per bag) of Mutete, a significant improvement from her previous yield of 5 bags. The programme has not only provided a livelihood opportunity for Veronika but also ensured that children at her local school nutritious meals.

WFP’s home-grown school feeding programme has transformed lives in this community. By connecting smallholder farmers like Veronika to schools, it creates a sustainable market, smallfarmers earn consistent income, and children receive healthy food. Veronika will now start training other women in her village to grow different crops and join her, believing that together they can grow more food and sell it to other regions. For Veronika, the programme is more than just a source of income it’s a lifeline to a brighter future for her family and her community.