[18 September 2007]

SANA'A,  (Saba)- Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mansour al-Hawshabi and director of the Middle East and North Africa Section in International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Muna Bashawi, who is visiting Yemen currently, held talks on Tuesday over cooperation between the ministry and the organization within the coming five years.

The meeting reviewed supporting program of IFAd for agricultural projects in a number of governorates to eradicate poverty.

During the meeting, the minister hailed IFAd's support for agricultural sector efforts in Yemen, pointing out that there are underway preparations to inaugurate new agricultural projects in Lahj, Mahra and Hudeida governorates which would help in fighting poverty.

For her part, the IFAD official stressed that the support offered to Yemen intended to support efforts being exerted to combat poverty and its economic and social aspects.

She also pointed out that IFAD is to follow a new policy in the coming two years by supervising implementation works of developmental projects, noting that agricultural projects in Yemen would be given greater interests.

It is worth mentioning that IFAD promised, during donors conference in London, to support agricultural development projects in Yemen with $70 million.

NN/AM

Saba