IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/fpr/ifprid/158431.html

Challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s home-grown school feeding program: Toward a more efficient and sustainable model

Author

Listed:
  • Adeyanju, Dolapo
  • Amare, Mulubrhan
  • Andam, Kwaw S.
  • Bamiwuye, Temilolu
  • Gelli, Aulo
  • Idowu, Ifetayo

Abstract

This paper examines Nigeria’s Home-Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP), an initiative that enhances traditional school feeding by supporting local agriculture. Operating across federal, state, and school levels, the HGSFP sources meals from local smallholder farmers, aiming to stimulate rural economies and improve food security. The program creates demand for locally grown food, encouraging farmers to increase productivity and adopt sustainable practices while providing them with stable income. The HGSFP has successfully expanded its impact beyond students to benefit farmers, communities, and local businesses; despite these achievements, the program still faces challenges including funding constraints, logistical issues, and monitoring difficulties. By analyzing successful implementations in other countries that are characterized by strong government support, well-developed supply chains, and active community participation, the paper offers insights for improvement. The discussion concludes with evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and program administrators. These suggestions aim to enhance the HGSFP’s effectiveness, efficiency, and long-term sustainability, ultimately contributing to Nigeria’s broader agricultural and economic development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Adeyanju, Dolapo & Amare, Mulubrhan & Andam, Kwaw S. & Bamiwuye, Temilolu & Gelli, Aulo & Idowu, Ifetayo, 2024. "Challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s home-grown school feeding program: Toward a more efficient and sustainable model," IFPRI discussion papers 2290, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:158431
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/158431
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elisabetta Aurino & Jean-Pierre Tranchant & Amadou Sekou Diallo & Aulo Gelli, 2019. "School Feeding or General Food Distribution? Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Educational Impacts of Emergency Food Assistance during Conflict in Mali," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(S1), pages 7-28, December.
    2. Mulubrhan Amare & Hosaena Ghebru & George Mavrotas & Adebayo Ogunniyi, 2024. "The Role of Land Inheritance in Youth Migration and Employment Choices: Evidence from Rural Nigeria," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(1), pages 135-160, February.
    3. Donald A P Bundy & Michael Kremer & Hoyt Bleakley & Matthew C H Jukes & Edward Miguel, 2009. "Deworming and Development: Asking the Right Questions, Asking the Questions Right," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(1), pages 1-3, January.
    4. repec:wbk:wbpubs:29115 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Lawson, Ty M., 2012. "Impact of School Feeding Programs on Educational, Nutritional, and Agricultural Development Goals: A Systematic Review of Literature," Graduate Research Master's Degree Plan B Papers 142466, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    6. Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Joseph I. Uduji, 2022. "The Impact of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) on Rural Communities in Nigeria," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 22/018, African Governance and Development Institute..
    7. Abay, Kibrom A. & Amare, Mulubrhan & Tiberti, Luca & Andam, Kwaw S. & Wang, Michael, 2022. "COVID-19-induced disruptions of school feeding services exacerbate food insecurity in Nigeria," IFPRI book chapters, in: COVID-19 and global food security: Two years later, chapter 23, pages 135-137, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Joseph I. Uduji, 2022. "The Impact of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) on Rural Communities in Nigeria," Working Papers 22/018, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    9. Benson, Todd & Amare, Mulubrhan & Ogunniyi, Adebayo, 2020. "The relative commercial orientation of smallholder farmers in Nigeria: Household and crop value-chain analyses," NSSP working papers 66, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. Adelman, Sarah W. & Gilligan, Daniel O. & Lehrer, Kim, 2008. "How effective are food for education programs?: A critical assessment of the evidence from developing countries," Food policy reviews 9, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Sumberg, James & Sabates-Wheeler, Rachel, 2011. "Linking agricultural development to school feeding in sub-Saharan Africa: Theoretical perspectives," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 341-349, June.
    12. Amare, Mulubrhan & Benson, Todd & Fadare, Olusegun & Oyeyemi, Motunrayo, "undated". "Study of the Determinants of Chronic Malnutrition in Northern Nigeria: Qualitative Evidence from Kebbi and Bauchi States," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 265411, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    13. Harold Alderman & Donald Bundy & Aulo Gelli, 2024. "School Meals Are Evolving: Has the Evidence Kept Up?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 39(2), pages 159-176.
    14. Petter Lundborg & Dan-Olof Rooth & Jesper Alex-Petersen, 2022. "Long-Term Effects of Childhood Nutrition: Evidence from a School Lunch Reform," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(2), pages 876-908.
    15. repec:wbk:wbpubs:2634 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. repec:plo:pone00:0215110 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Nduka Elda Okolo-Obasi & Joseph Ikechukwu Uduji, 2022. "The impact of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) on rural communities in Nigeria," Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 40(5), pages 988-1005, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amare, Mulubrhan & Abay, Kibrom A. & Berhane, Guush & Andam, Kwaw S. & Adeyanju, Dolapo, 2025. "Conflicts, crop choice, and agricultural investments: Empirical evidence from Nigeria," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    2. Harold Alderman, 2016. "Leveraging Social Protection Programs for Improved Nutrition," World Bank Publications - Reports 24450, The World Bank Group.
    3. Gedefaw Abebe Abiye & Serge Svizzero & Daregot Berihun Tenessa, 2026. "The Impact of a Homegrown School-Feeding Intervention on Children’s Educational Outcomes in Low-Income Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 16(1), pages 21582440261, February.
    4. Bagenda, Dominic K. & Field, Malcolm H. & Okazaki, Wataru, 2021. "Can Rural Community Initiatives Improve Learning Outcomes in Local Primary Schools?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Ashrita Saran & Howard White & Kerry Albright & Jill Adona, 2020. "Mega‐map of systematic reviews and evidence and gap maps on the interventions to improve child well‐being in low‐ and middle‐income countries," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), December.
    6. Alderman, Harold & Aurino, Elisabetta & Baffour, Priscilla Twumasi & Gelli, Aulo & Turkson, Festus Ebo & Wong, Brad, 2025. "Assessing the overall benefits of programs enhancing human capital and equity: a new method with an application to school meals," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    7. Amponsah, Emefa Akua, 2018. "The Ghana School Feeding Programme, Home Environment and Learning Outcomes," Miscellaneous Publications 358824, University of Ghana, Institute of Statistical Social & Economic Research (ISSER).
    8. Mostert, Cyprian M., 2021. "The impact of the school feeding programme on the education and health outcomes of South African children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. von Braun, Joachim & Beyene Chichaibelu, Bezawit & Laborde, David & Torero Cullen, Maximo, 2024. "Cost of Ending Hunger – Consequences of Complacency, and Financial Needs for SDG2 Achievement," Discussion Papers 343159, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    10. Ecker, Olivier & Hatzenbuehler, Patrick L. & Mahrt, Kristi, 2018. "Transforming agriculture for improving food and nutrition security among Nigerian farm households," NSSP working papers 56, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Sun, Yucheng & Li, Jiaolong & Shen, Xiuheng & Pan, Zhewen, 2025. "Early-life access to primary healthcare and educational attainment: Evidence from community health centers in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    12. Zhao, Chunkai & Chen, Boou & Song, Zhiyong, 2024. "School nutritious feeding and cognitive abilities of students in poverty: Evidence from the nutrition improvement program in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    13. Fumarco, Luca & Hartmann, Sven A. & Principe, Francesco, 2026. "Influence of within-class age differences on adolescents’ eating behaviors," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    14. Abid Anwar & Mussawar Shah & Yasrab Abid & Zia Ul Qamar & Hina Qamar, 2018. "Consumer Importance on Sustainable Water Sanitation & Hygiene Facilities Provided in Rural District Peshawar, Pakistan," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 5(1), pages 316-328, January.
    15. Gourlay, Sydney & Kilic, Talip & Martuscelli, Antonio & Wollburg, Philip & Zezza, Alberto, 2021. "Viewpoint: High-frequency phone surveys on COVID-19: Good practices, open questions," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    16. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Gender Sensitive Responses to Climate Change in Nigeria: The Role of Multinationals’ Corporate Social Responsibility in Oil Host Communities," Working Papers 22/041, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    17. Baldwin, Katherine & Mensah, Kristina & Tiehen, Laura & Rudloff, Bettina, 2025. "Mitigating food security impacts from crisis in high-income countries: lessons from different contexts," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    18. Harold Alderman & Donald Bundy, 2012. "School Feeding Programs and Development: Are We Framing the Question Correctly?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 27(2), pages 204-221, August.
    19. Caitriona Dowd & Samuel S. Polzin & Kelsey Gleason & Rebecca Yang & Pranay Narang & Ronak Patel, 2024. "Conflict's impacts on food systems: Mapping available evidence of interactions," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(4), pages 2152-2171, May.
    20. Chakraborty, Tanika & Jayaraman, Rajshri, 2019. "School feeding and learning achievement: Evidence from India's midday meal program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 249-265.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:158431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ifprius.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.