Al-Khanbashi Discusses Enhancing Water and Agriculture Projects in Hadramawt with Dutch Delegation and FAO
Yemen Monitor/ Newsroom:
Member of the Presidential Leadership Council and Governor of Hadramawt, Salem Al-Khanbashi, discussed on Sunday with a delegation from the Dutch Embassy in Yemen and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ways to expand cooperation in water, agriculture, and sustainable development projects in the governorate.
During the meeting, Al-Khanbashi reviewed the most prominent challenges facing the governorate, foremost of which are water security issues and the decline of groundwater reserves in a number of districts, including Ghayl Ba Wazir, Hajr, and Do’an, calling for support for agricultural and water development projects and strengthening partnership with the private sector and local universities.
He also stressed the importance of developing sanitation projects, especially in the city of Mukalla, in addition to supporting fish farming projects and scientific research and rehabilitation programs, in a way that contributes to enhancing sustainable development and creating opportunities for youth.
The Yemeni official called for benefiting from Dutch expertise in the fields of water management and modern agriculture, through training programs, scholarships, and academic and institutional partnerships.
For his part, the Dutch Deputy Ambassador said that cooperation with Hadramawt is based on a common interest in the water file, noting that there are broad opportunities to expand development projects and exchange expertise, and reviewing a number of programs implemented by his country in the governorate.
In turn, the representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations explained that the organization is implementing an integrated water resources management project with support from the Dutch government and international and local partners, which includes developing irrigation facilities, modern irrigation systems, greenhouses, and home gardens, stressing that the completion rate in the project has reached about 70 percent.
The two sides stressed the importance of continued coordination between the local authority and international partners to support food and water security and enhance developmental stability in Hadramawt.
