Yemeni Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation visit ICBA-AREA research project in Yemen

Dhamar, Yemen – The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) , with its partner the Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA)from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Yemen are involved in a research project that assesses forage productivity on local genotypes of Sorghum, and on introduced species of Quinoa, Sorghum and Pearl Millet. 

This work is part of a regional project on Adaptation to Climate Change, which includes several countries in West Asia and Northern Africa region. The project enjoys the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

H.E. Eng. Farid Ahmed Mujawar, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Yemen, and H.E. Yahya Ali Al Omari, Governor of Dhamar, visited the research project site among others during their visit to the central highlands research regional station. This station is part of the Public Authority of Agricultural Research and Extension.

Minister Mujawar confirmed the importance of choosing new agricultural cultivars that would have high productivity, be able to adapt to some of the harsh environments in Yemen, and that do not require large amounts of water. The Minister emphasized the importance of increasing the efforts to support research in agriculture, to expand the area under agriculture, and to address the challenges linked to food security. The Minister feels that finding agricultural varieties with high productivity will help meet the farmers’ aspirations and encourage them to rehabilitate their lands while enhancing agricultural production within Yemen’s severe climatic conditions.

High-level dignitaries accompanied the Minister during his visit namely, Mr. Ali Alsarimi (President of the General Authority for Water Resources), Dr. Fouad Aldoumi (Resident Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-FAO), and his assistant Dr. Mohammed Noman Salam, the Deputy Directors of Dhamar Province and leaders of agricultural institutions in the province.