Sana'a: A meeting was held in Sana'a on Saturday, chaired by Mohsen Atef, Undersecretary for Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, to discuss mechanisms for implementing contract farming agreements for date production during the current season.
According to Yemen News Agency, the meeting included officials from the Ministry's Marketing Sector, the Agricultural Cooperative Union, the Contract Farming Department, and the Khab Al-Sha'af Association. The discussions emphasized the importance of developing a time-bound implementation plan for this season's date contracts and highlighted the need for periodic meetings among stakeholders to monitor implementation and assess progress.
During the meeting, the Undersecretary underscored that moving toward contract farming is a strategic option to ensure production stability and achieve balance between farmers and the market. He noted that dates hold significant nutritional and economic value and should be prioritized in agricultural marketing programs.
Fuad Al-Suraji, Director of Contract Farming, reviewed practical steps for drafting contracts and safeguarding all parties' rights. He stated that the Ministry is committed to expanding this approach to other strategic crops, enhancing food security, and reducing import costs.
Bakil Taher, Head of the Marketing Department at the Agricultural Cooperative Union, stressed the importance of coordination with agricultural cooperatives to encourage farmers to engage in contract farming. He affirmed the Union's readiness to provide technical and advisory support to ensure the initiative's success.
Representatives of the Khab Al-Sha'af Association emphasized that integrating farmers into contract farming agreements for dates will help expand palm cultivation, improve production quality, and enhance both domestic and international marketing opportunities.