Qat threatens food safety in Yemen, Minister says [Archives:2007/1096/Local News]
October 22 2007
Ismail Al-Ghabri
SANA'A, Oct, 21 ) The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Dr.Mansour Al-Hawshabi, said that Qat lands had been increased in Yemen over the last year to one thousand hectare compared to the 110, 293 hectare in 2002. Qat trees had been remarkably and rabidly planted over the last years, overcoming the agricultural lands other crops such as cereals and fruits are grown.
“Economists and specialists consider Qat a disaster having social and economic impacts on the Yemeni families. Most of these families bear a huge amount of money to buy Qat””