[21/04/2026 01:05]

ROME – SABA
The Republic of Yemen participated Tuesday in the ministerial meeting of the 38th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Conference for the Near East, held at the organization’s headquarters in Rome, with a delegation headed by Salem al-Suqatri, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fishery Wealth.

In Yemen’s statement during the opening session, Minister al-Suqatri reviewed the challenges facing agricultural and food systems, which require rethinking traditional working models and moving toward more integrated and sustainable approaches in light of successive climate, economic, and geopolitical crises that have directly impacted food security, especially in fragile countries such as Yemen.

Al-Suqatri emphasized the importance of adopting an integrated approach linking agriculture, water, and energy to ensure maximum efficiency in the use of resources and to enhance sector productivity and sustainability.

He also noted that developing agricultural and fisheries supply chains is a top priority for the Yemeni government.

The Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fishery Wealth called for a shift in the nature of international support—from focusing on short-term humanitarian response to investing in long-term sustainable development, particularly in productive sectors led by agriculture and fisheries.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination among partners, including linking agriculture and irrigation projects, to achieve a more sustainable and efficient development impact.

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