Squash Cultivation: Necessity is the Mother of Invention [Archives:2000/49/Business & Economy]

Mahyoub Al-Kamali
Yemenis have since ages been famous for cultivating different kinds of grains, fruits and vegetables. The title Happy Land was attached on Yemen for those green arable gardens bestowed on it in the past. Yemeni farmers have demonstrated excellent skills in their treatment of land. They knew where and when to cultivate profitable corps. They were not confined only to cultivation and marketing what they grew, but went beyond to make of what they cultivated an industry, embodying valuable traditions and sometimes financially benefiting from such industry.
In this article we have chosen the squash cultivation which depicts skill of the farmer in making strange things out of agricultural products.
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Creeper Plant
Squash cultivation does not require complicated tools. It can be cultivated in valleys, planes, terraces during rainy seasons. It creeps on the earth to a length of 10-20 m. Its single bud may blossom many fruits.
Different Shapes
Mr. Ali Farhan Omar, a trader, said that the squash grows in different shapes. He added that a squash may have the capacity of 10-40 Liters. Uses of such a vessel differ from one place to another according to peoples needs.
Refrigerator to Keep Milk and Cold water.
Before people came to use refrigerators to keep vegetables, fruits and cold water Yemeni farmers used the squash as coolers after exposing them to the sun for not less than 3 months.
The upper narrow neck of the fruit is always cut. Then its emptied. After filling it with milk or water it is usually put on roofs at nights.
The use of squashes are commonly observed in the countryside where electricity services are not yet provided. Here, fruits of the squash serve as a traditional tool to preserve many liquids such as water, milk, honey, etc. without the use of electricity or gas.
The squash keeps honey and ghee fresh and prevents their pollution or decay, said Hassan Mutahar, a farmer. Cow milk is put in the squash and is stirred well for about 15 minutes to make ghee, he added.
Record of Events
Historical sources indicate that the squash was used in exchange of letters among ancient Yemeni cities. Some squash vessels were enameled with historical information and scripts. Letters were inscribed on the fruit dry side.
Unique Use
It has been very attractive for tourists to see the dried vessel of the squash converted into a beautiful cover for telephones. The telephone system with its connection is put inside a squash while the receiver is put inside another smaller one.
Squash prices range from USD 5-15 according to its capacity. In other words, the 15 liter vessel is usually sold for USD 5 while a 30 liter one might be sold for 15.
The life of Yemeni farmers has been embellished with skill and artistry of handicrafts which they utilize to overcome hard living circumstances.
He also explained that their work was done in cooperation with the Education Department and the Adult Education Department. He said that SFM is about to sign a new contract with the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD). As a foreign NGO SFM enjoyed some favors; They dont have to pay customs when importing equipment, etc., and Visas were issued free of charge. He mentioned that the Deputy Minister and many government officials appreciated their work. However, they would be more encouraged, if there was less bureaucracy and less paper work in Taiz. He said that they would like to spend that wasted time and money on the work and equipment needed. Mr. Olmosse concluded that they felt happy to be in Yemen.
IDAS-2
Engineer Taher Mahyoub, Director of the Innovation Development in the Agricultural Sector (IDAS-2), said, The aim of the project is to work in the agricultural sector and of late it has been extended to work in the countryside so as to develop rural areas. We aim at getting closer to the rural people and urge them to make the best use of their sources. We also work towards promoting self-help in agriculture for the targeted groups through vocational training. The project is supported by the German Government that covers the expenses of the field survey, a part of the training courses expenses, a local Yemeni budget for the employees salaries, vehicles, and fuel dues. The project covers Taiz, Ibb, Abyan and Lahj.
Mr. Taher Mahyoub added that from 70 to 80 training courses offered include: Beekeeping, illiteracy Elimination, Animal Wealth, Health Education, Agricultural and Veterinary Guidance, First Aid, Tailoring, Embroidery and other fields, which have been executed during the last one and half years of the projects operation. To help the targeted groups prepare studies on their problems; more than 60 technical researches, are being carried out to be submitted to authorities, organizations and allied projects. He concluded, Our teams work in remote areas in the countryside where the states services do not reach. We have also made the countrymen aware of theRift Valley Fever and how to take precautions in order to prevent recurrence of the disease. Our ambitions are very high.
To sum up, how can the Yemenis benefit from those training courses, researches, data and information carried out by the foreign enterprises and experts? How could the enterprises benefit from those experts and what could the people benefit from those enterprises. We hope to see Dia Organization, the Micro- Small Industry Enterprise, IDAS-2 and GTZ and UN Enterprises, more active. The people in the countryside were surprised to see such enterprises. They do not understand what Local Communities Development and Self-help Promotion mean.
They want discernible projects: water, electricity, paved roads, projects that improve their performance in agriculture and improve their income. Yet, these enterprises remain good because the remote areas suffer from lack of the states services.

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