Sanaa: Acting Prime Minister Miftah launched Thursday the ninth phase of the in-kind zakat project for cash crops, implemented by the General Authority for Zakat under the slogan "Food and Self-Sufficiency."
According to Yemen News Agency, the project aims to distribute 30,000 food baskets, containing items such as honey, almonds, raisins, coffee, coffee husks, sesame oil, dates, and peanuts, to 30,000 impoverished families, including people with special needs, thalassemia patients, war wounded and disabled, and African communities.
During the launch, the Acting Prime Minister congratulated the officials and staff of the Zakat Authority on launching the project and bringing it to fruition as part of the great obligation of zakat. He emphasized the role of the in-kind zakat project, specifically the "cash crops" initiative, in fulfilling this religious obligation. Miftah highlighted the importance of distributing the country's bounty to hundreds of thousands of impoverished people, amounting to approximately a quarter of a million baskets, along with over 150,000 measures of grain to the poor.
He urged officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and local authorities to contribute to raising awareness to advance the agricultural sector. This includes assisting farmers in obtaining quality seedlings, providing agricultural guidance and marketing support, and encouraging investment in packaging, canning, and harvesting.
The Acting Prime Minister stressed that zakat on crops and livestock is an important economic resource for addressing social issues. He called for support for the General Authority for Zakat to ensure its success and development, advocating for self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on external aid.
Sheikh Shamsan Abu Nashatan, head of the General Authority for Zakat, described the project as one of the fruits of Zakat, reflecting the greatness and mercy of Islam. He noted that the baskets distributed this year include varieties of the finest local produce, with dates and tiger nuts added for the first time.
Abu Nashatan confirmed that the in-kind zakat project, across its nine phases, has benefited 248,000 individuals with 248,000 baskets. Zakat on various grain crops reached 152,000 impoverished families, with each family receiving one qadah.
He emphasized the transparency and community involvement in the collection and distribution of zakat, ensuring that it reaches its rightful recipients. Cash crops are collected, processed, and distributed in a dignified manner to the poorest segments of society, in partnership with zakat payers.
The head of the Zakat Authority reviewed other projects implemented by the Authority, including the Debtors Project, medical camps, and ongoing projects such as kidney transplants and support for heart patients.
The inauguration, attended by notable figures from the Chamber of Commerce and the Zakat Authority, featured a documentary on in-kind zakat, a choral operetta, and a poem by the poet Muhammad Al-Harbi.