Yemen’s production of food grains decrease

It is vital to have an agricultural union that ensures of food security

The government must work to revive the role of the Cooperative and Agricultural Credit Bank (CAC Bank) as an institution that lends to farmers, to ensure the required balance between the bank’s rights and the farmers’ requirements. This should especially be undertaken in regard to small business farmers, said Prime Minister Ali Mujawar during his meeting on Monday with the leadership of the Agricultural Cooperative Union.
 
Mujawar affirmed the government’s support of the union’s efforts, as the government believes in the vital role of the union in the field of agricultural development.
 
He stressed the union’s responsibilities to observe the cooperative societies, and assess the level of their activities to the extent to which the farmers take advantage of the support and services provided by the government.
 
Mujawar urged the union to report the cooperative societies that violate investigation efforts in accordance with the law.
 
He also stressed that the government is as to reorganize the Agriculture and Fisheries Production Encouragement Fund in accordance with new principles and standards that serve as the basic function of the fund.
 
The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mansour al-Hawshabi, noted the importance of enhancing the partnership between the ministry, the union and the concerned authorities in order to serve the vital role of the union.
 
For his part, union head Mohamed Bashir affirmed the developmental responsibilities of the agricultural cooperatives in serving the country and the food security, pointing to the main challenges faced by the union.

 
In this regard he noted the massive destruction suffered by the cooperative societies and markets of the union by the actions of insurgent groups in Sa’adah.
 
One hundred cooperative societies were suspended from the union during the union’s efforts to tackle and correct the cooperative societies’ conditions across the country, Bashir added.
 
This issue has become paramount in the eyes of the government, as Yemen’s crop production declined to 674,488,000 tons last year, a decrease of 39,251,000 tons when compared against the similar numbers of 2008.
 
Data from agricultural production confirmed the decline of different food grains, specifically maize, millet and barley crops. This is the second consecutive year of decreases for these crops.
 
Data indicates that the total area dedicated to food grains, including wheat, corn, millet and barley, under cultivation declined last year, from 760,189 hectares in 2008 to 660,668 hectares in 2009. As a matter of recognition, the total area of land under cultivation in 2007 stood at 890,612 hectares.
 
Yemen’s low production of cereal crops has several factors. Specifically, the ongoing drought affected most agricultural areas during last year’s growing season, said Abdul-Malik al-Thour, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
 
According to the al-Thour, wheat production increased despite these circumstances, from 170,446 tons in 2008, to 222,129 tones in 2009.
 
He predicted increased productivity during 2010. Particularly, al-Thour expects grain crop production to increase dramatically, especially if weather conditions continue to be favorable. The ministry has stressed the importance of actively supporting the cultivation of food grains through the intensification and strengthening of agricultural extension efforts in all the regions and governorates of the Republic, as well as the provision of improved seeds and other agricultural inputs.
 
Agricultural experts list three factors as the main disadvantages faced by Yemeni farmers: water shortages, limited property holdings and the scarcity of some varieties of seeds.
 
In an effort to strengthen the agricultural sector, voices have continued to be raised from governmental and academic sectors affirming the importance of carrying out of plans and programs to strengthen the role of extension. The extension encourages the cultivation of grain as well as the provision of agricultural mechanization in coordination with Cooperative and Agricultural Credit Bank (CAC-Bank) by providing loans without interests for farmers.
 
Experts point out that the agricultural extension is a basic factor in agricultural development. By promoting the cultivation and productivity of grain crops and motivating farmers to move towards positive farming methods, the extension will contribute to the development of the agricultural sector in Yemen and strengthen the stability of food security.

 
Yemeni agricultural production of wheat provides for only 5% of the total demand every year. Thus, Yemen is forced to import 95% of its wheat requirements and 85% of its total foodstuff needs. These figures highlight the paramount concerns of food security through the tacit exploitation of the large consumption gap.

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