Agriculture sector complains of backwardness of production means [Archives:2005/838/Business & Economy]

The Yemeni farmer has acquired a wide technical knowledge in agriculture of traditional crops but the dealing with new crops, species and modern agricultural technology, such as the use of chemicals, agricultural mechanization and modern ways of irrigation are still limited among most farmers. This dealing is very important for increasing productivity to meet increasing needs of the people.

Agricultural sector in Yemen constitutes the major cornerstone for the national economy. Agriculture has gained a noticeable progress during the recent decades as a result of attention the state has given especially in providing three essential services, i.e. agricultural education, agricultural research and agricultural guidance.

Guidance work is among the most important factors aimed at making the required changes for the development of agricultural process in all its fields and preparation of agricultural work through the farmer's acceptance of new ideas and modern ways for raising productivity in quantity as well as quality. Therefore there must be a provision of specialized graduates in agricultural guidance capable of educating and communicating information as well as training farmers on the application of technically suitable techniques which are economically feasible for them.

A modern study in this regard mentions that the Yemeni farmer possesses high experience in many agricultural systems and traditional agricultural ways that are characterized by low productivity which today are not able to cope with the continued increase in the population that has amounted to 19.7 million people with a growth rate of 3.02%, which is deemed as the highest rate in the world.

This necessarily means an increase for the need to secure local sources of food through increasing agricultural production. The study added that the Yemeni farmer was in need of learning modern agricultural ways and technology and how to deal with them. These include chemical substances (insecticides and fertilizers), and agricultural mechanisation as well as solving problems faced by farmers and improving their living circumstances.

For Yemen's circumstances, importance of agricultural guidance, is increasing as agriculture is still traditional. Thus, the agricultural guidance function and efficiency of its apparatuses are among the important and major factors for the creation of agricultural development process and to develop agricultural work in order to increase production in quantity and quality.

This would not only help to raise the farmer's productivity, improving his living standards and the life of his family, but would also lead to a realisation of higher rates of self-sufficiency and food security, especially of strategic crops and commodities.

It would also realise some surplus in self-production so that to raise the volume of the country's exports and its share of hard currency. It also helps improve the country's process of good exchange and external trade as well as its ability to compete under the policy of free international market. Therefore, the importance of agricultural guidance can be summarized in the following points

– agricultural guidance is a developmental action and with its comprehensive, continued efforts it would realise agricultural and rural development,

– transfer of modern agricultural technologies to farmers and rural families that adopt them,

– training farmers and dissemination of agricultural awareness, conveying relevant recommendations to farmers according to their social, economic and environmental circumstances,

– raising the economic standard of farmers, especially the poor among them, in areas depending on rain, through engaging them in working out guidance, development programs and plans that help them solve their problems and needs,

– spread of awareness among farmers to adopt the gradual transfer from traditional agricultural ways to modern ones.

The study has also made it clear that agricultural guidance has during the few past decades achieved important accomplishments. During the eighties its achievements were tangible as some highly productive improved agricultural species were launched, especially following the issuance of the President's decree of preventing the importation of fruits and vegetables in 1984 in order to diversify crops and expand areas of lands used for plantation of fruits and vegetables. Thus the country has realised self-sufficiency and began to export the surplus to neighbouring countries.

Agricultural guidance has also presented many kinds of agricultural developed technologies and ways for agriculture such as modern scientific inputs and means, spread of improved species and informing farmers on the use of fertilisers and ways of fighting diseases. As a result, there has been an increase in production of area units of some other crops through publication of results of agricultural researches and encouragement of farmers to plant improved species and adoption of bases of modern agriculture.

Against all that, the agricultural guidance achieved during the past few decades:

– polarization of increasing numbers of human elements qualified for work in agricultural guidance,

– the establishment and distribution of 321 guidance centers, in addition to centers for offering other services such as nurseries and training centers,

– providing requisites for work such as equipment, apparatuses and means of transport,

– accumulation of scientific experiences with those working in the field of agricultural guidance,

– expansion of geographical ranges, fields of agricultural as well as animal and development work,

– development of a national strategy for agricultural guidance,

– development of links of connection and coordination with researches and farmers.
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