World School Milk Day being celebrated

Milk consumption is only 75 liters per person per year in the country as against the recommended 92 liters, statistics shows.

In this context, Nepal Dairy Association (NDA) has concluded that the stakeholders should work towards ensuring milk consumption of 92 liters per person per year at least for the children in the coming days.

The need for meeting the recommended milk consumption has been highlighted on the occasion of World School Milk Day. The Day is to celebrate the benefits and success of school milk programs. The first World School Milk Day was celebrated in September 2000 and has since become an annual event promoted by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations). The celebration of the Day in Nepal was first started by Nepal Dairy Association in 2016.

Association's central general secretary Prahlad Dahal said they have made preparation to celebrate World School Milk Day by organising various programs in all provinces, districts and local levels this year.

In Bagmati Province, the occasion would be marked by organising a program in cooperation and participation of various stakeholder organisations by providing milk to students at various schools in Kathmandu. The executive director of the National Dairy Development Board, Rajendra Yadav would be the chief guest in this program.

The purpose of celebrating the Day is to reinforce the nutritional value of milk. Milk is taken as a complete food.

Milk and dairy products continue to play a role in children’s diets today. A carton of school milk provides a 4-6-year-old with 52 percent of their recommended calcium intake; 59 percent of their recommended iodine intake; 100 percent of their recommended vitamin B12 intake; 59  percent of their recommended B2 intake.

Similarly, for older children aged 7-10 years, a carton of milk provides 42 percent of their recommended calcium intake; 53 percent of their recommended iodine intake; 100 percent of their recommended vitamin B12; 47 percent of their recommended B2 intake.

Milk also provides energy and protein for their growth and development.

World School Milk Day is celebrated in many countries, with an increasing number of activities taking place each year.