UNDP Yemen: Combatting the effects of climate change to build food security in Yemen

In Yemen, high fuel prices and many additional factors related to prolonged conflict have affected productive sectors, with agriculture particularly hard hit. The effects of climate change, including water scarcity, have further exacerbated the situation, leaving thousands of rural families vulnerable to food insecurity.

Water availability plays a crucial role in agriculture and food security: it is essential for crop cultivation, livestock breeding, and soil preservation. It allows struggling farmers to expand arable land and produce more. This in turn allows them to feed their families and also sell extra produce to earn an income.

The challenges posed by water scarcity and changing weather patterns in Yemen have hindered efforts to ensure food security. Many agricultural lands in Yemen are affected by floods and torrential rains as well as drought-induced desertification, making it increasingly difficult to sustain agricultural production. 

In response to Yemen's food security challenges, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnered with the Social Fund for Development (SFD) to implement the Food Security Response and Resilience Project (FSRRP). Funded by the World Bank, FSRRP tackles these issues by constructing rainwater harvesting reservoirs, preventing land erosion, and preserving agricultural lands, all while creating employment opportunities for local communities and facilitating their access to water for irrigation and livestock, offering a holistic approach to tackling food insecurity.

Supplying water for fruitful agricultural seasons

Today, Suleiman, a 42-year-old farmer, grows a diverse range of crops on his land. Until recently, however, he had been limited to growing only one or two types of vegetable as he battled the water scarcity affecting his village of Shareij Al-Ashraf in Aslam Al-Sham, a sub-district of Hajjah Governorate in northern Yemen.

“Farmers heavily rely on rainwater and wells for irrigation, which had previously limited the agricultural season to certain vegetable crops like tomatoes, courgette, okra, bananas and peppers,” he explains.

“With the construction of supplementary irrigation reservoirs in the village, the situation has improved significantly this year. The availability of water has even made it possible to cultivate the barren land near the reservoir. These lands are now irrigated, green, and yield a range of different crops,” says Suleiman.
 

Empowering local communities

Because water for irrigation is such a critical element in building food security, UNDP constructed three rainwater harvesting tanks ranging between 250 to 350 cubic metres in the sub-district of Aslam, Hajjah governorate, where Suleiman grows his crops.

These rainwater tanks have provided farmers with a sustainable source for irrigation, leading to a notable increase in agricultural productivity and improving the overall living conditions of many agricultural households.

“The supplementary irrigation reservoirs have not only provided a solution to the water shortage, but they also saved us a significant amount of money and effort by preventing harvest failures,” explains Suleiman.

The supplementary irrigation reservoirs allow local communities in Yemen to collect rainwater for future use in irrigation, addressing the persistent challenge of water scarcity in a country where rain-fed agriculture – particularly in remote and isolated regions – serves as the primary source of livelihood for many.

“A lack of water means death for lands and agriculture together,” says Suleiman. “I used to worry that my tomato or courgette crops would fail if rains were disrupted or there wasn’t enough rainfall before the harvest. But now, I know there is a sustainable irrigation source available, and I know the stored water will cover the needs of my land and crops during the dry season.”
 

Land preservation improves production

The implementation of agricultural preservation interventions, including the construction of spillways and irrigation canals, has brought about significant improvements in the use of rainwater, the expansion of irrigated land, and the preservation of agricultural land against soil erosion caused by torrential rains. 

Before these interventions, farmers in Abs, Hajjah Governorate, faced substantial annual losses, with their farms frequently washed away by heavy rains.

The successful construction of spillways under the umbrella of the FSRRP Project has not only protected agricultural lands from erosion, but it has also improved the lives of those working the land.

“All farmers have noticed the positive impacts of the newly constructed spillways,” says Mohammad, a 35-year-old farmer from the nearby village of Al-Qafrah. “Our lands were prone to erosion due to unpredictable changes in the rainy season, and this had a huge impact agricultural productivity,” he added.

Mohammed previously had to pay to rent a tractor to repair his farm and try to hold back erosion. The implementation of the spillways project, however, means his land is now protected – something Mohammed says brings him real joy.

“We eat part of what we grow at home, and we sell the surplus in the market,” Mohammed explains. “This additional income helps me buy agricultural supplies as well as essentials for my family. The conflict has had a profound impact on farmers. The prices of pesticides, fertilizers and fuel have skyrocketed, exacerbating already deteriorating living conditions.” 

A greater yield means more is left to sell at market – allowing Mohammed to better support his family. 
 

Agricultural infrastructure and job opportunities

With land preservation interventions, the agricultural sector in Yemen is supported to thrive and provide a vital source of income for many farmers and their families.  

These projects not only improve agricultural productivity, but they also contribute to developing community infrastructure while creating decent job opportunities for residents.

“This project targeted more than 200 households,” states Abdulelah Al-Moayyad, SFD consultant for the spillways project in Al-Wasat, a sub-district of Abs.

“The spillways play a crucial role in regulating the flood irrigation process between lands, thereby enhancing water retention and preserving the organic matter level in the soil. This ultimately contributes to improving the overall productivity of agricultural lands in the region,” Al-Moayyad explains.

Al-Moayad expands on the “remarkable impact” the project has already had, simply by allowing farmers to cultivate multiple crops within a single agricultural season. 

“Farmers were facing challenging circumstances. They grappled with land degradation and financial difficulties that made it impossible to reclaim eroded lands,” he recalls. He adds, “this year was transformative: the rains arrived during the off-season without causing any damage, farms were adequately irrigated, and farmers were able to grow crops throughout the year.”

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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)