Hodeidah – Saba:
Hodeidah Governor Abdullah Attifi launched on Wednesday the handover process for the first batch of contracted dates under the import bill management for the 1446-1447 AH date season.
The first batch, totaling 120 tons, was received through coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources—represented by the General Administration of Agricultural Marketing and Trade and the Contract Farming Department—in collaboration with the Tihama Development Authority, the Agricultural Cooperative Union, farmers' associations, and the commercial sector. The dates were distributed across three key agricultural regions in Hodeidah: 50 tons from Al-Suwaiq in Al-Tuhita District, 55 tons from Al-Jah in Beit Al-Faqih District, and 15 tons from Al-Nakheelah in Al-Durayhimi District.
During the launch, Governor Attifi emphasized that this step marks the culmination of ongoing national efforts to support local date production and activate contract farming as a strategic economic mechanism to stabilize the market and enhance self-sufficiency.
He explained that the initiative aligns with a comprehensive government policy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign imports by absorbing local crops through official channels , institutional partnerships with farmers and traders.
Attifi noted that Hodeidah possesses significant agricultural potential in palm cultivation, stressing the need to invest in this sector and expand its utilization for sustainable development.
He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Tihama Development Authority, the Agricultural Union, and partner institutions in ensuring the success of this process, calling for continued support programs for local producers.
For his part, the Governorate’s Deputy for Southern Districts Affairs, Mutahar Al-Hadi, stated that the handover of the first contracted batch of dates reflects the directives of the Revolutionary Leadership and the Supreme Political Council to support local agricultural production and promote self-sufficiency amid national challenges.
Al-Hadi highlighted that this step represents a qualitative shift in organizing agricultural marketing operations and linking farmers to the market, emphasizing that the targeted districts hold promising agricultural capacities that should be leveraged to achieve rural development and alleviate economic burdens on farmers.
Meanwhile, Agricultural Production Development Officer Eng. Samir Al-Hanani underscored the importance of the date import bill as an effective national mechanism to regulate the market and balance local production with consumer needs. He noted that the date initiative could be replicated for other crops, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture is working diligently to improve local production quality through enhanced value chains and organized marketing for farmers.
Eng. Fuad Al-Saraji, Director of the Contract Farming Unit, clarified that this batch was contracted with 25 local traders as part of efforts to organize local procurement and enhance market efficiency. He confirmed that the ministry continues to implement subsequent phases of the receipt plan, including additional batches to be delivered in coordination with agricultural associations and relevant entities.
Abdulrahman Hazaa, the Date Crop Supply Chain Officer, explained that this quantity represents the first batch of contracted dates for the season, with further deliveries scheduled in the coming weeks under a set timeline.
Hazaa noted that the receipt process follows precise technical , field standards, ensuring crop quality , proper collection points in collaboration with agricultural associations and ministry representatives.
Trader Fathi Al-Mutairi expressed the private sector’s appreciation for the government’s support of local production, stating that an organized marketing environment contributes to market stability and fosters trust between farmers and traders. He affirmed traders’ readiness to cooperate with authorities in receiving remaining quantities in upcoming batches for mutual benefit.
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