“Our production began to increase by 2,000 kilos, while before our yields did not reach 1,000 kilos. It all comes back to using modern techniques.” —Sami Saleh Mahdi Nasser, Yemeni farmer
Sami Saleh Mahdi Nasser started farming when he was just 12 years old, learning to coax crops from the dry soils of Lahaj, Yemen, using techniques handed down from his father and grandfather. Now aged 38, Mr. Nasser is the sole breadwinner for his extended family, and still relies on farming to support them. However, in the face of climate change, he is adopting a new set of agricultural practices learned through the USAID Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Program that are more suited to a changing environment and more likely to bolster his livelihood.
“Watermelon is the major crop in this area. It is a highly desired fruit here in Yemen, has good revenue, and is easily grown,” said Mr. Nasser. “But, for several years, we couldn’t cultivate it. We had a spread of pests and virus infection among the crops, and the water scarcity meant higher costs to drill and extract groundwater.”
To address the challenge, Mr. Nasser joined a group of 35 farmers from Lahaj who took part in a training and demonstration program with the USAID program, which included hands-on activities to introduce methods for increasing the productivity and sustainability of their fields. The sessions showcased how farmers could transform devastated fields into productive ones, using a combination of climate-smart technologies that present low costs and high returns for farmers—along with a more sustainable future for their land.
To inhibit the spread of pests and disease, and help retain moisture in the soil, the farmers learned how to apply plastic mulch along the crop beds and install low tunnel technology made of easy-to-install metal loops and plastic covering. They also learned how to set up and maintain a drip irrigation system, which has resulted in significant savings not only in water use, wastage, and evaporation but also in terms of time, labor, and costs.
“Watering one acre of land used to take us four to five hours each day. Now, using the drip irrigation techniques, it takes just half an hour,” says Mr. Nasser. “The four-hour watering process consumed 20 liters of diesel. Now with the drip irrigation system, the half-hour process consumes only two and a half liters of diesel.”
Initially, the farmers were leery of investing in new methods due to their initial costs. They changed their minds after seeing the technologies in action and understanding their substantial benefits. “After the training, they were convinced of the necessity and importance of the techniques,” said Mr. Nasser.
USAID’s experience with watermelon producers has found that the average return on investment is about 175 percent after just one season, and that profits using the recommended technologies are 275 percent higher compared to traditional farming methods. Mr. Nasser’s watermelon harvest was more than twice any he had seen previously, which enabled him to purchase three more acres of land that he plans to put under cultivation using the new methods. The extra income also meant that he was able to transfer his three children into a private school, where they can receive a more consistent and reliable education. “I advise all farmers in the area to follow my steps and use these modern technologies,” he said.
Nearly two-thirds of Yemenis rely on agriculture for their livelihoods and sustenance, but they live in one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. With the pressures of increased drought and unpredictable rains, safeguarding local farming and land management has become more essential than ever. Since 2020, the program has offered more than 140 technical training sessions to nearly 4,400 farmers to improve the quality, quantity, and sustainability of their production and enhance their family incomes. By supporting climate-smart agricultural solutions, USAID is working to improve food security and productivity and help Yemeni farmers become better stewards of their country's precious water and arable land resources.
USAID/ERLP
