The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Discusses its Interventions in the Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors with the World Bank
SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
A meeting was held today at the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries in the capital, Aden, bringing together the ministry’s leadership, heads of its affiliated agencies, and a high-level delegation from the World Bank, headed by Ms. Meskerem Berhane, Regional Director for Agriculture, Water, and Environment at the World Bank. The meeting discussed the World Bank’s development interventions in agriculture, fisheries, and water, and prospects for enhancing cooperation to sustain and improve food and water security in Yemen.
At the beginning of the meeting, the ministry’s leadership welcomed the World Bank delegation’s visit to Yemen, which aimed to assess the country’s situation and the level of implementation of interventions. The ministry’s leadership looks forward to strengthening the relationship and providing further support, emphasizing that the World Bank is the largest supporter of Yemen in various sectors, including agriculture and fisheries.
The Ministry’s leadership also presented a detailed presentation on the current situation of the agriculture, fisheries, and water sectors, highlighting the challenges they face, particularly war, climate change, and drought. These challenges have led to the deterioration of agricultural and fisheries infrastructure and have had significant impacts on agricultural and fisheries production. They also highlighted the scarcity of water resources, as well as weak institutional and technical capacities. This requires greater support to rebuild agricultural, fisheries, and water facilities and strengthen the capabilities of their staff.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries team praised the World Bank-funded projects in Yemen, including the Food Security Response Project, which is being implemented in 11 governorates at approximately $278 million, and the Sustainable Fisheries Development Project in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden (SFISH), which includes support for fishermen and the rehabilitation of nine fish landing centers in several governorates, making a tangible impact on fishermen and farmers.
The meeting also discussed priorities and urgent needs to improve the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen, advance infrastructure in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, and manage water resources. These priorities include institutional building and support for development programs for agricultural and fisheries facilities, agencies, and centers, such as the Agricultural Research Authority, the Marine Sciences Authority, and the Ministry’s Information Center. These efforts also aim to enhance capacity to address environmental and climate challenges.
For their part, the World Bank delegation affirmed the Bank’s intention to provide significant funding to Yemen to support the agriculture, irrigation, and fisheries sectors through a range of programs, projects, and interventions. They noted the World Bank’s climate and environment reports (the Environment and Climate Report) and fisheries, which will inform future interventions in water resource management, particularly interventions in the water basins of Wadi Hajar in Hadhramaut and Wadi Tuban in Lahj. Supporting fishermen with fishing equipment and marketing fish in accordance with international standards is a priority for support during the next phase.
