Jouf Wheat Farmers Protest in Sana'a Over Unpaid Crops

Wheat farmers from Yemen's northern Al-Jawf Governorate have initiated a protest in the capital, Sana'a, demanding payment for their crops purchased by the Houthi militia three months ago.

Several farmers reported that their demonstration began within the courtyard 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 stems from the delay in receiving their financial dues.

The farmers explained that the wheat harvests, delivered to the General Corporation for Grain Production three months prior, remain stored in the corporation's warehouses without being sold, and their value has not yet been paid, despite repeated demands.

According to a statement, the responsible Houthi authorities attribute the delay to the Governor of the Central Bank in Sana'a's alleged refusal to disburse the financial entitlements thus far. The farmers revealed that they have incurred significant losses due to the delayed payment and warned that continued procrastination will jeopardize wheat cultivation and expansion in Al-Jawf Governorate. They affirmed their resolve to escalate their actions if their demands are not met.

In a related development, informed sources indicated 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 Mahdi Al-Dhamin, the director of the Houthi-affiliated Agriculture Office in Al-Jawf, to follow up on payment orders in exchange for ending the sit-in.

It is noteworthy that the Houthi militia, through the Al-Jawf branch of the General Corporation for Grain and the Agriculture Office, prevents farmers from freely marketing their crops. They are compelled to sell their wheat to the corporation at low prices and with long payment terms, exacerbating the farmers' hardship and threatening the continuity of wheat cultivation in the governorate.