LocationsBoosting agricultural production in one of the world’s most water-scarce countries.
Supporting climate resilient agriculture in Yemen
September 9, 2024
Millet crops thrive in the district of Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar Governorate.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
Yemen’s agricultural sector, which employs and supports a large swathe of the population – particularly in the most vulnerable of rural areas – is a major source of local food production and crucial to building food resilience in a country struggling with widespread hunger.
Unfortunately, the agricultural sector in Yemen has been negatively affected by prolonged conflict – and the effects of climate change. Yemen imports some 85% of its food, including 90% of the wheat required for food supply, which means increased prices for basic pantry staples.
A bird’s-eye-view of banana trees during the rainy season in Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
Drought and Floods
Food security in Yemen is facing multiple challenges – and all are exacerbated by climate change. Prolonged periods of intense drought and destructive floods that devastate agricultural infrastructure and erode fertile soil are impacting rural and agricultural areas – and domestic food production.
In response to this crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) and the Public Works Project (PWP) to execute the Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP). Funded and supported by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the project aims to address the food security crisis by rehabilitating and preserving agricultural infrastructure and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
The rehabilitation of the Kubbat Al-Ashraf irrigation canal in Bani Sawad, a sub-district of Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar Governorate, is one such project.
Hamoud, a 61-year-old local farmer, has long grappled with the challenge of irrigating his farmlands in a region plagued by water scarcity. “Our lives had become difficult due to prolonged droughts and water scarcity,” Hamoud explains. “We lack a reliable water source for irrigation and rely solely on rainwater.”
With the local canal damaged, Hamoud says the land had dried out, leading to decreased crop production, and eventually leaving farmers unable to function.
“Before the crisis, I was able to cultivate my land year-round, producing 20 bags of peas from every 4,400 square metres,” Hamoud says. “This not only provided food for my family but also served as fodder for our livestock, ensuring stability for my family.”
Hamoud, a 61-year-old farmer, in Bani Sawad, Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar Governorate.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
Currently, however, Hamoud notes that, “The prolonged drought has devastated my land, destroyed crops and led to the starvation of our livestock. I have been unable to provide for my family and my children have been forced to move away in search of jobs.”
Hamoud describes the rehabilitation of the canal project as, “Holding the promise of restoring access to water, reigniting our motivation as farmers and enabling us to earn a living once more.”
The Impact of Climate Change
“The delivery of water to agricultural lands through canals is crucial for farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture,” explains Abdo, another local farmer, aged 52. “Unfortunately, in recent years, the damage to the canal left the land parched.”
Agriculture is so key to the region – “our sole source of income, providing us with food and fodder for our livestock” – that Abdo says the extreme climate has forced many people to abandon their lands and move to cities in search of livelihoods.
Abdo, a 52-year-old farmer, in Bani Sawad, Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar Governorate.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
“We farmers lived in constant fear of the destructive downpours that would wash away our fields after a drought,” recalls Abdo. “This project means we can now save the money we would have otherwise spent on hiring tractors to repair the damage caused by torrential rains.”
With that renewed hope, farmers are preparing for the upcoming agricultural season, “filled with excitement and optimism for a bountiful harvest,” explains Abdo.
Restoring and Improving Community Infrastructure
“This particular area was chosen for the project based on the fact that it is 100% agricultural, meaning the impact of the intervention is maximised,” says Jamal Al-Sanabani, PWP engineer and branch director. PWP carried out the first part of the project, the construction of a diversion barrier and a 200-meter canal entrance to redirect the water passing through the valley into the canal, ensuring its availability for irrigation, as well as the construction of protection walls and gabions.
“The overall goal of this project is to restore and preserve agricultural lands in the area, delivering a long-term, sustainable boost to the region’s food security,” Al-Sanabani explains.
Engineers from SFD at the newly constructed part of the canal in Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar Governorate.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
“Farmers in the region have been significantly impacted by climate change, resulting in drought and a decline in agricultural productivity,” explains Bassem Al-Saqqaf, SFD engineer and project consultant. He adds, “SFD carried out the rehabilitation of the main canal as well as the sub-canals, along with the construction of sub-control gates and several bridges and protection walls. These sub-canals deliver water from the main canal to farmlands, while the control gates help regulate water flow and water distribution to different farms. The protection walls defend farmlands against potential floods, while the bridges help people and vehicles move across the canals.”
Temporary Job Opportunities
Given the urgent humanitarian needs faced by so many communities across Yemen, these interventions focus on providing short term benefits as well as long-term impacts. In addition to preserving agricultural lands, the irrigation rehabilitation work has also created temporary employment opportunities for the local community.
The water canal in Wesab AsSafil, Dhamar.
UNDP Yemen / 2023
During construction, 465 families benefited from employment opportunities provided through the project, allowing them to earn wages while building sustainable agricultural assets.
Overall, these interventions have positively impacted the wider community of approximately 4,500 agricultural households in the area with improved access to water resources.
Collaboration for a Greater Impact
The canal rehabilitation project is one of many geographically interlinked collaborated projects that focuses on improving food security and economic recovery - a new approach spearheaded by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme with local partners SFD and PWP to maximize impact at the community level.
Funded and supported by the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the Yemen Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP) is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Food Programme(WFP). UNDP’s component of FSRRP improves agricultural production infrastructure and builds climate resilience and is implemented in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD), and the Public Works Project (PWP).
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