[02/07/2026 02:32]

ROME – SABA

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries Salem al-Soqotri has called for stronger governance frameworks to ensure that digital innovation and emerging technologies translate into tangible benefits for farmers, particularly small-scale producers.

Speaking during a high-level roundtable on "Governance for Inclusive and Sustainable Smart Agriculture" at the FAO Global Conference on Smart Agriculture in Rome, al-Soqotri said effective governance is essential to advancing food security and achieving sustainable agricultural development.

He argued that building an enabling environment for smart agriculture requires coordinated action on several fronts, including modernizing institutional frameworks, adopting policies that support digital transformation in agriculture, investing in digital infrastructure, agricultural information systems, and early warning networks, and strengthening farmers' technical capacities through partnerships with international organizations, the private sector, and research institutions.

Highlighting Yemen's experience, al-Soqotri said the government, working with regional and international partners, has launched a number of pilot initiatives that demonstrate the potential of smart agriculture.

These include expanding greenhouse cultivation, introducing hydroponic farming, promoting modern irrigation technologies such as drip and center-pivot systems, and strengthening agricultural information and early warning systems alongside climate-smart farming practices.

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