YEMEN SEEKS GTZ SUPPORT TO STOP QAT PLANTING

SANA'A, Jan. 18 (Saba) - Yemen and GTZ discussed here on Monday the possibility to support the government's efforts to reduce expansion of Qat agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mansour al-Hawshabi and the GTZ's programs officer discussed the GTZ support to the Qat Research Center to be able to work in the future with the international organizations in this regard.

The GTZ support includes a component concerned with assisting Qat farmers to cultivate other agricultural competitive crops such as fruits, coffee and olive.

German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) signed here on Monday a supportive agreement of € 7 million allocated for sustainable food security program for three years in Yemen.

On the other hand, the International expert in Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) affirmed during his meeting with al-Hawshabi the organization's readiness to support the displaced people in Hajjah and Amran provinces.

The organization will support the displaced people in fields of livestock and veterinary services, provided Yemen prepares the required studies and surveys.

TD/AF