Dhamar: The branch of the General Authority for Zakat in Dhamar Governorate has launched a new initiative focusing on cattle breeding, milk production, and marketing in the Dhamar and Jehran districts. This project is part of a strategic effort to economically empower poor families in the region.
According to Yemen News Agency, the project is valued at 293 million Yemeni riyals and aims to distribute dairy cows to 250 impoverished families across 22 villages in Jehran District and the Makhlaq Munqidhah area in Dhamar District. The initiative seeks to enhance the income levels and food security of these families by enabling them to produce and market milk daily.
Funded and executed by the Zakat Authority, the project has the backing of local authorities in Dhamar and Jehran districts. It is executed in collaboration with the Jehran and Makhlaq Munqidhah cooperative associations. The comprehensive project includes the distribution of hybrid dairy cows, the provision of necessary equipment and feed, veterinary care, and the establishment of milk collection centers.
At the project's launch, Ibrahim Al-Mutawakkil, Director of the Zakat Authority Office in the Governorate, highlighted the project's alignment with revolutionary leadership directives aimed at achieving self-sufficiency. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to transform poor families into productive units, thereby contributing to sustainable development and enhanced food security.
The project specifically targets 250 families, with each receiving a hybrid cow capable of producing up to 15 liters of milk daily. The milk not needed for personal consumption is collected and sent to the Yemen Dairy Factory under a purchasing agreement, ensuring a stable income for these families.
Al-Mutawakkil affirmed that this initiative would provide a significant daily income for beneficiary families, fostering economic stability and production continuity. Future projects, such as a beehive distribution for honey production, are also planned to further economic empowerment.
Hashem Al-Warith, Director of Jehran District, praised the project as a practical step toward sustainable empowerment of poor families, transitioning them from dependency to productivity. He emphasized the role of such projects in local development, poverty reduction, and food security enhancement.
Hashem Al-Kahlani, Director of Empowerment Projects at the Zakat Authority, described the initiative as a model for sustainable economic empowerment. He detailed the project's operational aspects, including a non-cash loan repayment system designed to ensure the program's continued success and expansion.
Abduh Al-Harib from the Bonyan Foundation and Engineer Ahmed Shakhab from the Reef Munqidhah Cooperative Agricultural Association both emphasized the project's potential to improve living conditions and economic stability for poor families by establishing a robust production and marketing system.
Mohammed Mashli, Head of the Jehran Cooperative Agricultural Association, highlighted the project's role in completing dairy sector value chains, fostering local production, and reducing reliance on imports, thereby contributing to regional sustainable development.