USDA gives $183M for McGovern-Dole program

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide $183 million in agricultural commodities and support to benefit an estimated 2.7 million children in 10 developing countries as part of the McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.
   Through the McGovern-Dole Program, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service works with private voluntary organizations and foreign governments to deliver this aid with the goals being to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education, especially for girls.
   “By providing school meals, teacher training and related support, McGovern-Dole projects help boost school enrollment and academic performance. At the same time, the program focuses on improving children’s health and learning capacity before they enter school by offering nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women, infants and preschoolers,” USDA said in a statement.
   An estimated 28 million children in 37 countries have benefited from the McGovern-Dole Program since its inception in 2002.