Title: National School Milk Program Faces Implementation Hurdles Amid Inter-Ministerial Coordination Efforts
The nationwide rollout of Iran’s School Milk Program for the current academic year is encountering significant operational delays, despite the formal allocation of a 6.5 trillion Rial budget. While the program has officially commenced in only four provinces—Lorestan, Khuzestan, Gilan, and Zanjan—a full-scale launch across the country remains pending due to logistical and coordination challenges.
A Wave of Hope and Subsequent Denial
Recent social media reports suggesting a nationwide start to the distribution were officially denied by the Ministry of Education. This created a wave of expectation among families and schools, which was swiftly tempered by the official clarification. Hossein Asadollahi, Secretary of the National Milk Committee, confirmed that while the program is active in the four named provinces, substantial obstacles prevent a broader implementation.
The Coordination Conundrum
A primary challenge lies in inter-departmental coordination. According to officials, the Ministry of Education finds itself navigating responsibilities that fall outside its direct purview. Mr. Asadollahi explained that the Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad, as the principal body responsible for supplying raw milk, has not participated in coordination meetings for the program. Furthermore, a new directive from the Market Regulation Headquarters has delegated key supply responsibilities to provincial governors. This shift from a centralized to a province-led model is intended to streamline execution but raises concerns about potential disparities in the program’s speed and quality across different regions.
Industry Readiness and Administrative Delays
In contrast to the portrayal of dairy industry reluctance, industry representatives state they have been prepared for months. The Iranian Dairy Industry Association has publicly expressed its readiness to manage the program at a national level. However, they point to administrative delays from the Ministry of Education as a critical bottleneck. Industry officials stress that dairy plants require formal contracts at least two months before the school year begins to secure raw milk, order packaging, and allocate production capacity. The delay in finalizing these contracts, they argue, has created the current crisis. Past issues, including unpaid invoices from previous years, have also contributed to a climate of mistrust, complicating current negotiations.
A Program of National Importance
Nutrition experts have consistently emphasized the vital role of the School Milk Program in providing essential micronutrients and combating nutritional poverty, particularly among students in underprivileged areas. Industry leaders have historically described it as the country’s most targeted subsidy, efficiently reaching the neediest children without deviation and serving as a model of a successful domestic initiative. The current delays highlight the complex logistical and bureaucratic efforts required to reactivate and sustain a program of such national significance. Efforts are ongoing to resolve the coordination issues and fulfill the program’s objectives for the current year.