Hodeida - Saba:
Hodeida governor Abdullah Atifi launched the 2025 date harvest season and a pilot date and agricultural/fish product drying project in al-Suweiq area of al-Tuhaita district. The project includes solar drying rooms and drying beds.
The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, the local authority, and implemented by the Agricultural and Fisheries Production Promotion Fund in cooperation with partners. It aims to enhance value chains and improve local product quality.
Governor Atifi stated that the project is a key step toward food security and developing date production in Tihama. He praised the resilience of al-Tuhaita and stressed the need for more development and service projects.
Hodeida undersecretry Ahmed al-Bishri emphasized the project's role in improving post-harvest processes and boosting the market quality of Tihama dates. He urged farmers to adopt modern sorting and drying techniques to increase export potential and returns.
Engineer Samir al-Hanani, Head of Agricultural Production Development, explained that the solar dryers are eco-friendly and part of a wider strategy to reduce loss and support high-yield crops like dates.
Ali Haza’a, Head of Tihama Development Authority, highlighted the project's role in supporting farmers and aligning with the growing date production in Tihama. He stressed the need for improved harvest, drying, and marketing methods.
Engineer Abdulwahab al-Ashwal, Executive Director of the Production Promotion Fund, noted that the solar drying project is the first of several sustainable initiatives aimed at modernizing post-harvest practices.
Bakel Taher, Head of Marketing at the Agricultural Cooperative Union, revealed that the 2025 date yield is estimated at 500–600 tons in Tihama, showing strong farming improvements.
Ibrahim Wahas from the Contract Farming Unit stated that 23 contracts were signed this year with importers for 1,850 tons of dates, reflecting rising demand and production.
Al-Tuhaita director Adel Ahaif confirmed that the district is a key date-producing area and stressed the urgent need for modern drying and marketing solutions to match its agricultural growth.
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