Yemeni fruit production sees record growth

Yemen's fruit crop yield increased by more than 10,000 tonnes in 2012 over the previous year, reflecting an increase in rainfall, more cultivated land and the greater availability of diesel fuel used for pumping groundwater for cultivation, experts told Al-Shorfa.

Data issued by Yemen's Central Bureau of Statistics show that 2012 agricultural production reached 1.1 million tonnes, an increase of 10,320 tonnes over 2011.

Agricultural lands cultivated with fruit crops have expanded to 94,123 hectares, an increase of 74 hectares over 2011. Yemen is known for mangoes, grapes, figs and almonds.

Ministry of Agriculture undersecretary Abdul Malak al-Thor told Al-Shorfa the increase in production is due to an expansion of cultivated areas, higher rainfall after the 2011 drought, and the increased availability of diesel fuel, which farmers use to pump water from groundwater wells to irrigate their crops.

"Productivity in 2012 was the highest ever in fruit crops, surpassing the highest production levels reached in the past, which was in 2010 and amounted to 1,036,00 tonnes," he said.

Al-Thor expected crop yields to be even greater in 2013, due to the rain and the country's stability.

Source: al-shorfa.com