UNDP Yemen: The Green Cycle: How strong agricultural systems power food security in Yemen

At sunrise in the Abyan Delta, farmer Abdulghalib walks through rows of young seedlings, carefully inspecting their leaves.

Just a few years ago, fields like this one struggled to survive. Seedlings brought from other governorates were expensive and often weak because they were not properly preserved and were exposed to hard conditions. Inorganic fertilisers damaged the soil. Irrigation depended on costly fuel, and inadequate storage capacity meant that even successful harvests could lose value before reaching the market.

Today, Abdulghalib’s crops look different; they’re stronger, healthier, and yielding more.

“The seedlings from Abdullah Mashhoor’s nursery are much better than what we used before,” he says. “And the compost changed the way I farm. I no longer buy inorganic fertilisers that harm the land.”

His experience reflects a broader transformation taking place across Abyan Governorate, long known as the “food basket” of southern Yemen.

Rather than tackling farming challenges one at a time, a new initiative has strengthened the entire agricultural system at once by connecting farmers, suppliers, processors, and markets into a functioning local value chain.

The results show a powerful lesson: when every part of the agricultural system improves together, the impact is far greater than the sum of its parts.

A system, not a project

Prior to launching the intervention, national partner Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS), conducted market assessments and consultations with farmers to understand the obstacles that were limiting their agricultural productivity.

The findings showed they were not facing a single problem, but rather a set of interconnected challenges. Imported seedlings were costly and unreliable. Flood irrigation wasted scarce water. Inorganic fertilisers and pesticides damaged the soil health. Access to quality agricultural inputs was limited. And weak post-harvest systems caused losses that were estimated at 26 per cent of production.

In response, UNDP in partnership with SMEPS, introduced an integrated model known locally as the “Green Cycle” through the World Bank’s funded Emergency Social Protection Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Project (ESPECRP).

The model focused on strengthening the entire agricultural supply chain by supporting local enterprises that provide farmers with seedlings, organic fertilisers, pest management, irrigation technologies, processing services, and market access.

 

Local businesses drive action

At the centre of this work are local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many of which expanded their operations through the ESPECRP support.

One of them is Bin Mashhoor Nursery, which was founded by agricultural engineer, Abdullah.

“With the support we received, we established the nursery from scratch,” he says. “At first farmers were hesitant. But after they saw the results, demand quickly grew.”

Since locally produced seedlings are better adapted to Abyan’s climate and soil, they have helped farmers reduce their reliance on imported plants.

Nearby, Al-Joule Women’s Association has become an important supplier of organic compost.

Manager Haseenah recalls how the project changed their production process: “Before, it took two or three months for compost to decompose. With the solar-powered shredding machine we received, the materials break down much faster and production has dramatically improved.”

The entire facility is powered by a solar energy system, supporting sustainable and efficient production even without reliable electricity.

What began as a small association with 58 members has grown to 142 women, expanding their business reach and creating a sustainable income for local families.

The nursery and association are not operating in isolation. Compost produced by Al-Joule improves the soil health, while high-quality seedlings from Bin Mashhoor translate that improved soil into stronger yields. By sharing knowledge, resources, and market access, they reinforce each other’s work. Most recently, their partnership enabled them to fulfill a 70-tonne compost order which was valued at USD$12,000.

This ecosystem is further strengthened by the role of Al-Bakri Foundation, which has improved access to essential agricultural inputs. By establishing a warehouse and offering farmers flexible credit terms on materials such as drip irrigation systems, pipes, and shade netting, the foundation helps to ensure that farmers can adopt improved practices without prohibitive upfront costs. In doing so, it closes a critical gap between supply and affordability.

A shift toward greener farming practices

Recognising the challenges associated with inorganic pesticides, local entrepreneurs have also begun producing neem oil, a natural pest control solution derived from the seeds of neem trees.

Mill owner, Ali, explains why farmers quickly embraced it: “This product is safe for people, animals, and bees. The neem powder also protects crops from termites.”

For farmers like Osama, the difference is visible in the fields: “Since I started using it, pests are much less of a problem. My crops are healthier and production is better than before.”

From harvest to market

Improving production was only part of the solution. Farmers also needed better systems to process, store, and transport their crops.

Bin Fulais Agricultural Agency received support to expand their seed processing and storage capacity. With modern equipment, the agency increased their output from 500 kilograms per day to nearly 10 tonnes.

The Agency’s manager, Mamoun, explains the importance of this step: “We provide farmers with high-quality sesame seeds and connect them with buyers through our marketing network.”

In turn, these improvements have reduced post-harvest losses and helped them to secure better prices in the market.

“Our biggest challenge used to be what happened after harvest,” says sesame farmer, Saber. “Now the seeds are cleaned, sorted, and properly stored before going to market.”

At the Delta Abyan Food Processing Facility, crops are then packaged and prepared for distribution.

Processing standards have been strengthened through the collaboration between Bin Fulais Agricultural Agency and Delta Abyan Food Processing Facility. Bin Fulais handles post-harvest cleaning, sorting, and seed preparation, while Delta Abyan adds value with airtight packaging, and precise weighing, ensuring market-ready products.

“Our focus is on quality,” explains facility manager, Ebtesam. “When the product is handled well, farmers’ efforts are rewarded.”

These gains are reinforced further along the chain. Fuad, who operates both as a produce distributor and owner of Al-Maqbouli ripening facility, plays a dual role in ensuring crops reach markets in optimal condition. With project support, he replaced a truck that frequently broke down and improved the reliability of products transport.

At the same time, the rehabilitation of his ripening facility has strengthened post-harvest handling by allowing produce to be stored and ripened. “Now we can reach distant markets,” Fuad says, “and deliver products in much better condition.”

Solar energy has further stabilised operations across facilities by reducing fuel dependence and enabling more consistent processing and storage.

When the system starts to Work

As these interventions took hold across multiple points in the value chain, the results became visible throughout the agricultural system.

 

Employment in supported SMEs increased by 138 per cent, rising from 47 to 112 formal jobs, including 45 women employed for the first time. Micro-enterprises expanded as well, with permanent employment growing from 11 to 39 workers, alongside a steady rise in daily wage opportunities across rural communities.

At the same time, businesses became more productive and profitable. SME annual sales increased by 48 per cent, while net profits rose by 22.6 per cent, reflecting stronger efficiency and improved market access. Micro-enterprises experienced similar gains, with average sales increasing from $21,000 to $36,000.

Operational improvements have also strengthened sustainability across the value chain. Production losses declined by 26 percent, while solar energy now accounts for approximately 75 per cent of operational power. As a result, fuel consumption has dropped by 42 per cent, lowering costs while improving reliability.

For farmers, these changes translated into meaningful gains. Incomes increased, the quality of crops improved, and the risks associated with farming began to decrease. This marks a clear shift from fragile production to a more stable and resilient agricultural system.

 

Replenishing the food basket

By strengthening multiple parts of the system simultaneously, from seedlings and soil health to processing, logistics, and markets, the Green Cycle approach has helped to rebuild a resilient agricultural economy in Abyan.

According to nursery owner, Abdullah Mashhoor, the goal is now long-term stability: “We want farmers to be able to access strong seedlings locally. That way their harvests improve year after year.”

Meanwhile, Al-Joule Women’s Association continues to expand opportunities for rural women through producing traditional foods, spices, and natural products for local markets.

Across the governorate, farmers, suppliers, processors, and distributors are increasingly connected through a functioning local agricultural system.

For a region long known as the “food basket” of southern Yemen, that transformation means more than higher production. It means the fields of Abyan are feeding families, sustaining livelihoods, and anchoring the region’s economic future once again.