Wheat farmers from Yemen's northern Al-Jouf governorate have initiated a protest in the capital, Sana'a, demanding payment for their crops purchased by the Houthi militia three months ago. The farmers stated that their protest began within the premises of the General Corporation for Grain Production in Sana'a before relocating to the front of the Ministry of Agriculture building, which is under Houthi control. This action is a response to the prolonged delay in receiving their financial dues. According to the farmers, the wheat crops delivered to the General Corporation for Grain Production three months prior remain stored in the corporation's warehouses without being processed or paid for, despite repeated demands. The relevant authorities within the Houthi administration reportedly attribute the delay to the refusal of the Governor of the Central Bank in Sana'a to authorize the financial disbursements thus far. The farmers highlighted that they have incurred significant losses due to the delayed payment and warned that continued procrastination could jeopardize wheat cultivation and expansion efforts in Al-Jouf governorate. They affirmed their intention to escalate their actions if their demands are not met. In related developments, informed sources revealed that the Houthi militia is exerting pressure on the farmers to end their protest outside the Ministry of Agriculture, threatening them with arrest. One farmer disclosed that they received assurances from the Houthi director of the Agriculture Office in Al-Jouf, Mahdi Al-Dhamin, who promised to follow up on payment orders in exchange for ending the sit-in. It is noteworthy that the Houthi militia, through the branch of the General Corporation for Grain and the Agriculture Office in Al-Jouf, prevents farmers from freely marketing their crops. They are compelled to sell their wheat to the corporation at low prices and with extended payment terms, exacerbating the farmers' hardships and threatening the continuity of wheat cultivation in the governorate. |
