Agricultural leaders inspect production and development projects in Bajil District in Hodeidah

The Executive Director General of the Unit for Financing Agricultural and Fish Projects and Initiatives in the Capital Secretariat, Eng. Abdullah Sharaf al-Din, along with the Secretary-General of the Agricultural Cooperative Union, Eng. Muhammad al-Qahum, the Executive Deputy Director-General of the Unit, Samir Hamza, the President of the Agricultural Union in the Capital Secretariat, Abdul Hafeez Husn, the Director General of the Bajil District, Abdul Moneim al-Rifai, and the President of the Bajil Agricultural Cooperative Society, Adel Sam, inspected a number of agricultural projects and community initiatives in the Bajil District, Hodeidah Governorate.

The visit included an overview of the project for raising and propagating local chickens affiliated with the Bagel Association, which is considered the first nucleus for propagating this type of poultry, due to its natural breeding without the use of vaccines, the quality of the taste, and its high nutritional and economic value.

They also inspected the 70-hectare reclamation project in the Bab al-Naqa area, and the construction of caravans to harvest water, as part of efforts to revive agricultural lands and enhance local production.

In this context, the head of the Bagel Association, Adel Sam, explained that the project comes within the association’s directions to support community initiatives, noting that these lands have not been reclaimed for decades, but today they are witnessing a renaissance through integrated efforts between farmers and government agencies, pointing out that the area has become known as the “model village” in Bab al-Naqa, with the aim of transforming it into a productive village that contributes to reducing migration to cities and providing decent livelihoods for citizens.

The visit also included a review of the seed bank of the Bagel Association, where the seed sieve - a local industry produced by the General Grains Corporation - was reviewed, which contributes to addressing seed problems, improving their quality and increasing production, in addition to viewing the grain stores and seed machines.

The delegation also visited the association’s poultry assembly and slaughterhouse site, which is scheduled to open in the coming days, thus strengthening the value chain of animal production in the directorate.

During the visit, the Executive Director General of the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit, Eng. Abdullah Sharaf Al-Din, confirmed that these projects represent a successful practical model of partnership between government agencies and society, noting that the Financing Unit pays special attention to productive initiatives that achieve a direct impact on improving the lives of citizens.

He explained that the local chicken breeding project reflects a strategic direction towards enhancing local production in natural and sustainable ways, because of its role in providing healthy food and raising the level of self-sufficiency.

He added that land reclamation and water harvesting projects represent a fundamental pillar in agricultural expansion, stressing that investment in land and water is an investment in the future of the country's food security.

He pointed out that the Finance Unit continues to support and adopt such successful models, and work to disseminate them in various directorates, thus contributing to building an integrated agricultural economy based on community initiatives.

He also praised the level of organization and work within the Bagel Association, considering what was achieved as a pioneering experience that can be built upon and developed in other areas.

For his part, Director General of Bajil Directorate, Abdul Moneim Al-Rifai, explained that current efforts focus on strengthening community work and partnership as they represent the “agricultural front” in light of the current circumstances, stressing that having the elements of self-sufficiency in water, food, and medicine represents the basis of independence and national decision-making.

He pointed out that field awareness and direct visits to farmers played a major role in expanding the tasks of the association and the directorate, and addressing many agricultural challenges, by identifying problems and identifying the parties concerned with resolving them, stressing the importance of reaching the community in raising morale, correcting concepts, and enhancing the spirit of initiative.

He pointed out that the Bagel Association was able to collect about 5,000 liters of milk daily from farmers, which is an indication of growing productive activity and enhancing agricultural integration in the district.

They were accompanied during the visit by the Director of Studies and Planning at the Agricultural and Fisheries Projects and Initiatives Financing Unit, Engineer Issam Al-Faqih, and a number of specialists in the unit.