Since the outbreak of war in Yemen nearly a decade ago, the Yemeni people have been living under the crushing weight of hardship, uncertainty, and a bitter struggle for survival. Many continue to endure a harsh fight to stay alive in a conflict that has dragged on with no clear end in sight.
One of the most prominent features of these experiences has been the widespread prevalence of food insecurity, exacerbated by the deterioration and collapse of the agricultural sector. In their quest to make the most of their dwindling and limited resources, families are forced to resort to severe coping mechanisms, such as reducing the usual meal frequency, limiting the variety of foods they consume, and deciding which family members should be prioritized for eating meals.
Additionally, this unfolds as Yemen’s most crucial productive sector—directly linked to the food security, livelihoods, and employment of Yemenis—struggles to regain stability after enduring years of severe neglect and significant deterioration.
Indeed, agriculture stands out as one of the most promising sectors that Yemen has not properly managed or fully capitalized on. Despite 34% of the country's land being classified as arable, the vast majority consists of pastureland and is used for grazing rather than cultivation. Only 3% of the total land has been reclaimed for agriculture, and less than half of this area (around 1.5 million hectares) is actually cultivated.
Meanwhile, Yemen utilizes less than half of its arable land for food production, this includes about 528,000 hectares dedicated to grains, 166,000 hectares to qat, 136,000 hectares to fodder, 92,000 hectares to fruits, 82,000 hectares to cash crops, 69,000 hectares to vegetables, and 48,000 hectares to legumes. Today, despite its agricultural potential and access to fishing waters and grazing lands, Yemen imports 90% of its food.
In addition, this comes amid sweeping changes in Yemen’s food production and agricultural sector, as many farmers have shifted their focus to cash crops, with qat taking precedence. While food production had been gradually increasing following the decline in oil exports, the outbreak of war and ongoing conflict have severely disrupted much of the agricultural activity, leading to a deterioration in fishing and other food production sectors. Therefore, herein lies the shock that "Khuyut" has sought to capture in this dossier, highlighting the profound impact of these developments and shedding light on the suffering of Yemenis, echoing the anguish of living through a decade of hardship and scarcity.
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