Agriculture Research & Extension Authority concludes a workshop on establishing and managing farmers’ business schools

Thursday, 3 Jumada al-Awwal 1445 AH, corresponding to November 16, 2023
Dhamar - General Authority for Agricultural Research and Extension:

Agriculture Research & Extension Authority concluded today a workshop on "Establishing and Managing Farmer Business Schools" at the Agriculture Research & Extension Authority Center in Dhamar.

The workshop, organized by the Agricultural Research and Extension Authority in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) within the "Rural Livelihoods Development" project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), was attended by 21 participants, including agricultural extension agents from the agriculture and irrigation offices in the provinces of Dhamar, Al Hudaydah, and Al Dhale, as well as agricultural researchers from the research stations in the Central Highlands, Tihama, and Northern Highlands, affiliated with the Authority.

At the conclusion, Dr. Abdullah Al-Alfi, the head of the Agricultural Research and Extension Authority, praised FAO's role in supporting the agricultural sector and enhancing the Authority's efforts in reactivating the company and supporting research efforts aimed at promoting agricultural development and achieving food security.

He emphasized the importance of the Rural Livelihoods Development project in serving the agricultural sector and translating the objectives aimed at achieving agricultural renaissance.

Dr. Al-Alfi highlighted the crucial role of agricultural extension in serving the agricultural process, urging the participants to transfer the knowledge and skills they acquired in the field to motivate farmers and equip them with skills to expand their agricultural activities and achieve an agricultural renaissance.

In turn, Dr. Hussein Jadin, a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the workshop, which is being implemented for the first time in Yemen in the field of Farmer Business School management, is part of the Rural Livelihoods Development project funded by the IFAD.

He emphasized the importance of the project and its impact on poverty reduction, particularly in the living conditions of targeted communities, contributing to improving the livelihoods of the poor by enhancing food and nutrition security, increasing agricultural production, and building resilience against climate risks.

He stated that the workshop complements the exemplary capacity building of agricultural engineers, researchers, and farmers in "Field Farmer Schools," which is the developed and model advisory approach for building farmers' capacities and enhancing cooperative work to improve agricultural production for small-scale farmers in Yemen.

He pointed out that Farmer Business Schools focus on developing the management of agricultural products from production to harvest and marketing, with the aim of improving the agricultural value chain. He expressed hope that the participants would benefit from the knowledge they received and transfer it to the targeted farmers.

Jadin praised the efforts of the General Authority for Agricultural Research and Extension and its continuous cooperation with FAO in transferring knowledge and science to trainers and farmers.

Dr. Amin Yahya Rajeh, the Director of the National Agricultural Training Center, explained that the workshop aimed to build the capacities and skills of the trainees to enable them to facilitate the activities of Farmer Business Schools and implement training programs for members of field schools, as well as improve the skills of farmers in the field of business development and engage in activities that increase profitability.

Mohammed Abdul Razzaq, the Director of the Agriculture and Irrigation Office in Maghrib Anes, Dhamar, confirmed that the participants received information and knowledge about resource and input assessment, with water resources being a primary focus, and how to manage them correctly and effectively for all segments of society. He also mentioned the mechanisms and methods of establishing field Farmer Business Schools and benefiting from them in practical work.

Dr. Abdul Momen Shuja'a Al-Din, the workshop trainer, attended the closing ceremony.