Aden / Desert Sky
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Major General Staff Pilot Salem Abdullah Al-Saqqatri, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries, inaugurated today in the capital Aden the proceedings of the coordination meeting of the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, with wide participation that included more than 60 international and local organizations and development partners working in the fields of agriculture, food security, and livelihoods.
In his opening speech, Minister Al-Saqqatri stressed the importance of the meeting as a key platform to enhance coordination and integration between government agencies and international partners and organizations working in the agricultural and food security sector, to confront the growing challenges the country faces, foremost among them the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, deterioration of agricultural lands, and the spread of transboundary plant and animal pests and diseases.
Al-Saqqatri noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries is working to develop and update national strategies related to agriculture and food security, in line with current changes and to enhance the sector’s capacity to achieve sustainable development and improve agricultural, livestock, and fisheries production. He affirmed the importance of building human and technical capacities and developing monitoring, early warning, and rapid response systems to address risks threatening food security.
His Excellency stressed the need to direct development projects toward achieving sustainability and enhancing their long-term impact on local communities, thereby contributing to improving livelihoods, raising productivity, and achieving comprehensive rural development. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to continue working and coordinating with all international and regional partners to support food security and agricultural development efforts in Yemen.
The Minister also reviewed the Ministry’s efforts to update the National Strategy for Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries, in partnership with experts, specialists, and relevant authorities, with the aim of formulating an integrated national vision that responds to current challenges and supports achieving food security and sustainable development.
For his part, the Global Coordinator of the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, Abdu Majeed Khan, praised the level of commitment and cooperation shown by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries, confirming that the Ministry has clear strategic priorities in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors, which forms an important base to build on in implementing development programs and projects.
Khan emphasized the importance of enhancing coordination and integration among partners working in the humanitarian and development fields, and avoiding duplication of efforts and unconstructive competition, especially in light of limited funding allocated for humanitarian response. He noted that the international community and donor agencies continue to strongly support response plans in Yemen, which contributes to expanding access to beneficiaries and enhancing the impact of humanitarian and development interventions.
For his part, FAO Senior Advisor Alimo Many confirmed the organization’s continued support for the efforts of the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster and the Technical Secretariat for Food Security, and working in partnership with the Yemeni government to enhance coordination and implement priority programs and projects.
He explained that the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, co-led by FAO and the World Food Programme, plays key roles including coordinating partners’ efforts, needs assessment, information management, strategic response planning, resource mobilization, capacity building, and providing technical and operational support, in addition to preparedness and emergency plans, and monitoring and evaluation.
Many also revealed preparations for launching several new initiatives and projects, including a project funded by the European Union, and a dairy value chain development project being worked on in cooperation with the World Bank, affirming that these projects align with the priorities and orientations of the Yemeni government in enhancing food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The meeting witnessed extensive discussions on the most prominent gaps and needs in the agriculture and food security sectors, and ways to enhance coordination between government agencies, international and local organizations, and development partners, to contribute to raising the efficiency of humanitarian and development response and achieving a sustainable impact that serves local communities in various governorates.
