Al-hodeidah: A meeting held on Monday at the Office of Economy, Industry, and Investment in Al-Hodeidah, chaired by Governor Abdullah Atefi, reviewed proposals and solutions to ensure the continued success of the dairy localization strategy and to absorb the quantities of natural milk supplied by local producers.
According to Yemen News Agency, the meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Mohammed Halesi, Chairman of the Tihama Development Authority Ali Hazaa, Director of the Office of Economy Saleh Atefa, Chamber of Commerce representative Mohammed Al-Hattami, Director of the Standards and Metrology Authority Khalil Al-Joufi, Agricultural Services Corporation representative Hassan Al-Tashi, Deputy Director of the Land Authority Mohsen Abu Ghaidna, and representatives of the Cooperative Union, associations, and dairy factories and companies. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and dairy producers to develop the production and marketing chain for local milk, ensuring absorption of quantities supplied by farmers, and maintaining continuous operation of factories following the approved localization plan.
The meeting also addressed the level of compliance by factories in receiving milk quantities under previous agreements, improving transportation and distribution mechanisms, and preparing milk collection centers in the districts. Additionally, it discussed the use of imported milk in some factories, emphasizing the importance of adhering to standard specifications in labeling and production to ensure the quality of local products and protect consumers.
The meeting concluded with a series of measures, notably forming a joint committee of relevant authorities to monitor the implementation of the dairy localization strategy and to develop a field-based follow-up matrix. Factories will also be required to receive surplus milk without delay, and efforts will be made to reprice yogurt products in various sizes according to studies submitted by the factories.
Attendees emphasized the importance of factories purchasing milk from producers at the government-determined price of 320 riyals per liter and the need to ensure the readiness of milk collection centers in designated districts, contributing to addressing absorption issues and ensuring smooth transportation and supply processes.
Governor Atefi stressed the importance of coordinated efforts by all parties to encourage local producers and absorb fresh milk produced in the districts, praising the role of dairy factories in supporting the national economy and reducing reliance on imported milk. He also highlighted the provincial leadership's commitment to supporting the localization of the dairy industry and enhancing partnerships with the private sector to develop this vital sector, which represents a key pillar of national food security.
He underlined the importance of translating the meeting's outcomes into practical steps on the ground to stabilize the local market and ensure continuous production amid current challenges, stressing the need to remove obstacles facing farmers and milk suppliers and to provide them with the necessary facilitation to continue production.
Deputy Governor Halesi described supporting local products as a strategic choice for achieving food security, emphasizing the local authority's commitment to strengthening coordination with relevant entities to ensure the proper collection and transport of milk according to health standards.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Office of Economy, Industry, and Investment stated that the office is preparing an execution matrix to monitor factory commitments, update data on collection centers and production sources in the districts, ensuring accurate statistics and stable daily supply to factories. He noted that through coordination with government agencies and the private sector, the office seeks to improve the efficiency of supply chains and ensure absorption of all locally produced quantities, calling for integrated roles among official institutions, factories, and farmers to achieve the objectives of the localization strategy.
He also highlighted the importance of adopting a clear mechanism for distributing milk among factories to ensure fair supply and prevent field-level losses, noting that the upcoming phase will include regular field monitoring to ensure implementation of the recommendations.
Representatives of Yamani, Nana, NadFood, and Dirham dairy factories confirmed their full commitment to implementing the agreements and their readiness to absorb locally produced milk at the predetermined price, while working to develop production lines and improve quality to meet national standards. They emphasized the importance of continued partnership with government entities to overcome challenges related to transportation, cooling, and distribution, thereby enhancing consumer confidence in local products and increasing their competitiveness in the market.