In a bold move to combat malnutrition among schoolchildren, Bhutan has unveiled the “One-Child, One-Egg” initiative as part of its revamped school feeding programme. The pilot project, which began this academic year, will see approximately 32,000 students across 300 selected schools receiving one egg per day.
The initiative was formally launched in the capital by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay alongside Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. Speaking at the event, Dr. QU Dongyu emphasized the transformative potential of the programme, noting, “This simple, yet profound approach is key to improving children’s nutrition and ensuring they grow up to be productive citizens of Bhutan.”
Aligned with the start of the new academic session, the pilot phase has secured an initial commitment of USD 2 million from the FAO, with funds slated for deployment by the first quarter of 2025. Officials anticipate that the programme will eventually be scaled up nationwide, promising significant long-term benefits for the nation’s young learners.
Addressing a Critical Need
Bhutan faces persistent nutritional challenges. Recent studies have highlighted alarming deficiencies among children, with severe gaps noted in Vitamin D, Folate, and Ferritin levels. These nutrient shortfalls contribute to delayed growth, impaired cognitive development, and weakened immune systems. National data reveals that 17.9 percent of children under five are stunted, 8.7 percent are underweight, and a striking 36.5 percent of adolescent girls are anemic.
For many Bhutanese children, school meals represent their primary—if not only—source of nutritious food. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MOAL), this issue is especially pronounced among the 22,089 students who receive only one meal per day under the existing school feeding programme. Eggs, celebrated as a nutrient-dense superfood rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals such as Vitamin D, B12, and iron, are seen as an affordable yet effective remedy to these nutritional gaps.
A MOAL official explained, “For a significant number of our school-going children, eggs may be the only accessible source of essential nutrients. This initiative is set to make a real difference in their day-to-day health and academic performance.”
Broad Support and Collaborative Efforts
The “One-Child, One-Egg” initiative was first conceptualized by Dr. QU Dongyu during a high-level discussion with Prime Minister Tobgay at the 79th UN General Assembly and later announced at the World Food Forum 2024 in Rome. The programme’s implementation will be a collaborative effort involving the MOAL, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Bhutan Livestock Development Corporation Limited, and local farmers’ cooperatives to ensure an efficient farm-to-school supply chain.
Prime Minister Tobgay assured the public that funds allocated to the initiative would be dedicated solely to enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals. “Our commitment to our children’s health and future is unwavering,” he stated during the launch event.
A Step Toward Sustainable Agriculture
Coinciding with the introduction of the egg initiative, Bhutan and the FAO also inaugurated the Bhutan AgriSustain Fund. This new fund is designed to transform Bhutan’s agricultural sector by addressing challenges such as climate change, limited market access, and human-wildlife conflicts. Rooted in the nation’s Gross National Happiness principles and aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals, the fund represents another significant stride toward building a resilient and inclusive agricultural framework.
As the “One-Child, One-Egg” initiative takes flight in pilot schools, stakeholders remain optimistic about its potential to improve the health, academic performance, and overall well-being of Bhutanese children—ensuring that even the most vulnerable have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.
Submission By Ugyen Zangmo
