School milk in China

The government-driven school milk programme was introduced in 1999 and today over two million children are benefiting from drinking milk in schools. The government plays the role of promoting, facilitating and governing, including regulating milk prices and ensuring strict quality control of milk production.

Parents pay for the milk packages for their children. Over a period of three years, China’s raw milk production increased by 19% per annum, dairy cattle in stock increased from 4.6 million to 6.9 million, dairy farmers’ incomes increased by 58% and 200,000 direct and indirect jobs were estimated to have been created throughout the value chain.

The number of dairies have more than doubled, and the per capita consumption has risen dramatically from 6 litres in the nineties to more than 10 litres today.

Source: Study of the Economic Impact of the China School Milk Programme. (Model: Financed by private sector and led by the government)

For more information please contact our Food for development office