Al-bayda: A workshop was held on Thursday in Al-Bayda province to launch work on value chains for crops, agricultural products, and livestock. Organized by the local authority as part of the 1447 AH plan, the workshop targeted three model districts.
According to Yemen News Agency, the workshop was conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, in coordination with the Agricultural Cooperative Union and the Bunyan Development Foundation, and funded by the Agricultural and Fisheries Financing Unit. It aimed to introduce development partners from government agencies, civil society, and the private sector to the action plan and its implementation mechanisms. This effort is part of an integrated vision to achieve food security and enhance local production.
During the workshop, an awareness film on agricultural value chain concepts was presented, along with an explanation of development work principles and intervention mechanisms for 26 agricultural and food products. The roles of supporting entities and coordination and implementation plans were also discussed.
At the opening, Al-Bayda Governor Abdullah Idris described the workshop as a starting point for implementing an integrated plan aimed at advancing the agricultural and livestock sectors in the governorate by activating value chains and strengthening community and sectoral participation in production and marketing stages. He noted the governorate possesses significant agricultural and pastoral resources, making it well-suited for agricultural and livestock development.
Governor Idris emphasized prioritizing this project for the current year and will monitor its implementation in the targeted model districts. He stressed the importance of organized institutional work and the alignment of roles among government agencies, civil society, and donors.
Meanwhile, the governorate's agricultural sector official, Engineer Mohammed Al-Haydari, stated that the workshop marks a real starting point for implementing a participatory model among relevant stakeholders to enhance developmental performance and improve local efficiency in agriculture and livestock. He explained that the project translates the National Vision's objectives of doubling local production and achieving self-sufficiency.
Engineer Hilal Al-Jashari, the value chain officer for agricultural crops, reviewed the workshop's objectives, the agricultural value chain plan for the targeted districts, and the partners' roles in establishing coordination mechanisms and mobilizing resources for the plan's success.
Haidar Al-Gharib, Director of the General Zakat Authority Office in the governorate, presented a working paper on economic empowerment mechanisms for the project's target groups, affirming the authority's readiness to provide resources, logistical support, and financing to ensure the sustainability of value chains.
Additionally, Shaker Al-Soufi, the Bunyan Development Foundation's coordinator in the governorate, gave a presentation on the foundation's activities and its role in supporting local production and agriculture-related services.
The workshop was attended by several key officials including Ahmed Al-Tahri, Director of the Office of Economy, Industry, and Investment in the governorate, and others who discussed coordination mechanisms, integration, scheduling follow-up and evaluation stages.