Taiz: The Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects Financing Unit in Taiz province convened on Tuesday to evaluate ongoing and future projects aimed at bolstering food security and promoting agricultural development. The meeting was presided over by Acting Governor and Board Chairman Ahmed al-Masawi, who emphasized the indispensable role of agriculture in enhancing food security across the region.
According to Yemen News Agency, the board assessed the status of agricultural and fisheries projects that are currently underway throughout the Taiz governorate. A total of 31 agricultural projects are slated for implementation in the near future, with funding provided by the unit. The attendees also scrutinized the mid-year report for 1447 AH, which evaluated progress on projects executed by multi-purpose agricultural cooperative associations, official bodies, and development partners.
Al-Masawi underscored the necessity of persistent project monitoring and called for the expansion of veterinary clinics, pharmacies, and agricultural service centers in all districts to effectively combat crop diseases and pests. He also urged the prompt execution of a tree-planting campaign in conjunction with summer school agricultural activities.
Engineer Hussein al-Rashdi, Executive Director of the unit, delivered a report outlining stalled and unexecuted projects, identifying primary challenges, and proposing solutions for resumption and completion. He also highlighted ongoing collaborative efforts among development-related entities, including the Central Emergency Interventions Unit, the Community Initiatives Department, the agricultural sector, the Agricultural Cooperative Union, and Bunyan Development Foundation, to enhance sector performance and strive towards self-sufficiency in grains, vegetables, and fruits.
The board sanctioned a suite of projects funded by the unit, encompassing institutional and community development, plant and livestock production, and productivity clusters in model districts such as Khadir and Maqbanah. The projects include value chain development in dairy production. Additional projects under the 1447 AH plan were approved, focusing on value chains and added value to reinforce agricultural cooperatives, with a focus on prioritizing and expediting implementation in collaboration with relevant authorities.
The meeting also reviewed the water, economic, and social impact of water retention structures intended to recharge groundwater in districts including al-Taeziyah, Mawiyah, Khadir, and Maqbanah. These structures are being implemented by agricultural cooperatives with funding from the unit.