Dhamar – Saba:
The Agricultural Sector in Dhamar province organized a field day for wheat harvest in Al-Qa’mah area, Manqidhah sub-district, Dhamar City Directorate.
During the event, which was attended by local farmers, agricultural leaders, and development officials, Eng. Hafez Al-Junaid, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Sector in the province, highlighted the importance of such field activities conducted under the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) project. This initiative is implemented by the Agricultural Sector with support from the Executive Unit for Managing Agricultural Project and Initiative Funds.
He explained that the field day aimed to facilitate the exchange of agricultural expertise among farmers and agricultural extension workers, emphasizing the need to apply this knowledge practically. This approach supports efforts to expand the cultivation of wheat, corn, and legumes, aligning with broader goals to achieve food security and self-sufficiency.
Meanwhile, Eng. Fouad Al-Kouri, Agricultural Extension Officer in the governorate, and Eng. Ibrahim Al-Mahdi, Director of the Agricultural Sector in Dhamar Directorate, underscored the significance of Farmer Field Schools as a participatory, hands-on learning method at the farm level. They noted that FFS serves as a sustainable framework for agricultural and developmental activities, involving farmers, extension services, agricultural research, and other stakeholders in the development process.
Additionally, Eng. Khaled Al-Atawi and Eng. Abduljabbar Al-Aswad, facilitators of the field school in the area, reviewed the activities carried out within the wheat farmers’ field school. These included meetings with farmers to identify challenges, raising awareness about incorrect agricultural practices, and providing corrective guidance.
They explained that the field school focused on educating farmers about proper agricultural practices, such as land preparation, soil tillage and sterilization, selecting and testing high-quality seeds, irrigation methods and scheduling, types and methods of fertilization, pest and disease control, environmental analysis, plant inspection techniques, and signs of crop maturity.
The school also provided guidance on seed selection for the next season, post-harvest handling, storage, and marketing. Additionally, it promoted modern agricultural technologies, their role in reducing operational costs, increasing productivity, improving quality, and ultimately boosting profits.
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