Hodeida - Saba :
During the past year 2024 AD, Hodeida Governorate witnessed fundamental development achievements in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, thanks to the tireless efforts made by the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit.
The unit played a pivotal role in supporting cooperative societies, developing infrastructure, and implementing strategic projects aimed at enhancing local production, reducing dependence on imports, and achieving food security as a strategic goal in line with national trends towards self-sufficiency.
Enhancing the role of cooperative societies:
Based on the importance of agricultural cooperative societies as a fundamental pillar for the advancement of the agricultural sector, the Projects Financing Unit was keen to provide qualitative support to these societies, as they are the link between farmers and financing and development institutions.
In this context, integrated furniture was delivered to 12 multi-purpose agricultural cooperative societies in the northern and eastern square directorates, funded by the unit at a cost of 18 million riyals, with the aim of improving the administrative and organizational work environment within the societies, which enhances their efficiency in providing agricultural services to farmers.
Rehabilitation of the capabilities of agricultural institutions:
As part of its ongoing efforts to support and develop agricultural institutions, the Project Financing Unit financed a project to rehabilitate and restore four administrative buildings affiliated with the Tihama Development Authority in the southern region, at a cost of 100 million riyals.
This step is part of an integrated vision to enhance the efficiency of agricultural and fisheries institutions, and raise their ability to provide services to farmers and fishermen, which contributes to accelerating the wheel of rural development.
A qualitative shift in crop cultivation:
In an unprecedented step, a soybean cultivation project was implemented during 2024 on an area of 150 hectares in Bajil Directorate, as the first experiment of its kind in the country.
The project aims to expand the agricultural area planted with this crop to more than six thousand hectares in the next season, which will lead to reducing the annual import bill of about $60 million, and enhancing local production of crops used in food and feed industries, which supports the national economy and reduces dependence on foreign markets.
Projects to support the fisheries sector:
The efforts of the Project Financing Unit were not limited to the agricultural sector only, but extended to support the fisheries sector, as the first phase of the shrimp factory rehabilitation project in the city of Hodeidah was implemented, with funding amounting to 135 million riyals.
The project aims to raise the quality of fish products, improve productivity, and enhance export opportunities to foreign markets, which contributes to improving the income of fishermen and increasing the economic returns of the fisheries sector.
Integration of efforts between development agencies:
The year 2024 witnessed extensive coordination between the Project Financing Unit and both the Tihama Development Authority and the Red Sea Fisheries Authority, with the aim of raising the efficiency of joint work and achieving sustainable development in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
During the joint meetings, mechanisms for developing infrastructure, improving support for farmers and fishermen, and finding sustainable solutions to production and marketing problems were discussed, in a way that enhances the stability of these vital sectors.
Updating agricultural production with modern technologies:
As part of its efforts to raise the efficiency of agricultural production and reduce losses, the Project Finance Unit distributed 20 corn sacks to agricultural cooperatives, within the framework of the contract farming program.
This equipment contributes to improving the quality of production, reducing losses, and increasing the added value of agricultural products, which contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of farmers in the local market.
Tihama Plain Land Utilization Project:
As part of the strategic direction towards achieving self-sufficiency in grain crops, the Project Finance Unit launched an ambitious project to exploit arable lands in the Tihama Plain.
In this context, 137 plowing equipment was provided to support farmers and encourage them to grow strategic crops, while taking advantage of the rainy season to enhance local production and reduce dependence on food imports, which constitutes an important step towards achieving food sovereignty.
A clear vision towards sustainable development:
In this context, the Director of the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit, Yahya Al-Wadaei, stressed that the efforts made come within the framework of a national strategy aimed at achieving food security and enhancing self-sufficiency.
He explained that the unit focuses on financing qualitative projects, stimulating local production, and raising the efficiency of cooperative societies, in addition to developing the agricultural and fisheries infrastructure.
Al-Wadaei pointed out that the next phase will witness a significant expansion in the scope of projects, and an increase in the volume of funding allocated to support farmers and fishermen, with a focus on implementing initiatives to develop productive value chains, and strengthening the infrastructure of local markets, which contributes to creating new job opportunities, and achieving a sustainable agricultural and fisheries renaissance.
Previous achievements of the giving journey:
During the years 2022 and 2023, the Project Finance Unit supported the implementation of 37 projects worth more than 2 billion and 800 million riyals, including infrastructure development projects, support for cooperative societies, and financing community initiatives.
Among the most prominent projects implemented is the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, by financing projects to build dams and water barriers, and supporting the cultivation of strategic crops such as wheat, maize, and soybeans, and providing heavy agricultural equipment to enhance agricultural reclamation operations.
It also financed rainwater harvesting projects, the construction of water and earth barriers, and the rehabilitation of the sea gate of the fishing port in Hodeidah, at a cost of 250 million riyals, and financed projects to develop fish landing centers and rehabilitate the central slaughterhouse, and implement scientific studies and research on the development of fish wealth, in addition to supporting the enhancement of capacity building programs for fish cooperatives, supporting their role in marketing and production, and supporting the implementation of afforestation projects to combat desertification, and the cultivation of reclaimable lands.
These efforts reflect the pivotal role played by the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit in achieving a sustainable agricultural and fisheries renaissance, enhancing food security, and supporting national trends towards self-sufficiency, which paves the way for a more stable and growing economic future.
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