Socotra – Desert Sky News and Events Jan 23/2026
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries, headed today by the Undersecretary for Services and Production, Engineer Fahmi Al-Ghathnani, inspected the progress of the Kadha agricultural farm project in the Socotra Archipelago Governorate. The project is funded by the World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by the Humanitarian Aid and Development Organization (HAD) as part of the third phase of the "From Food to Resilience" project, which aims to improve livelihoods and enhance food security for local communities.
During the visit, the delegation received a detailed technical presentation from the HAD team on the project's components and implementation phases. Five hundred families will directly benefit from the project through monthly stipends disbursed during the three-month project implementation period.
The project includes preparing 25 hectares (approximately 59 acres) of farmland, constructing a high-quality protective fence, drilling two water wells, installing a modern irrigation network, building a livestock fattening pen, and establishing an organic fertilizer production facility. This will contribute to the sustainability of agricultural operations and improve local production.
The Undersecretary and his accompanying delegation commended the role of the World Food Programme and the Humanitarian Aid and Development Organization in supporting the agricultural sector in Socotra. They praised the implementation of high-quality agricultural projects and model farms that contribute to raising agricultural awareness, meeting some of the local market's vegetable needs, and improving income sources for beneficiary communities.
Al-Ghathani emphasized the importance of coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture's office in the governorate in implementing agricultural programs and projects. He expressed his pride in the local Socotri workforce and their active role in developing the agricultural sector in the governorate.
During his visit, the Undersecretary and his accompanying delegation inspected the veterinary quarantine facility at the port of Socotra. He emphasized the importance of adhering to veterinary and plant quarantine regulations and controlling the movement of animals and plants to preserve the archipelago's unique environment as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He affirmed that the Ministry is committed to upgrading quarantine facilities at the ports of entry in the Socotra archipelago and training personnel working at these ports on veterinary and plant quarantine regulations to ensure the preservation of Socotra's unique character as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
