Integrated management for the maintenance of agricultural terraces (In more than a governorate)

Agriculture in Yemen is the primary activity of the rural population to improve their standard of living. In spite of the farmers' substantial efforts to protect the terraces from deterioration and collapse, their efforts remain weak due to their limited capabilities (natural – economic – social) factors.

Recognizing its economic returns for the poor rural population, undertook  a pilot project based on integral technical systems to rehabilitate terraces (terraces  walls, gabions, water tanks for supplemental irrigation, and forestation) in the priority rain-fed agriculture areas that are among the poorest rural and remote areas, that have meager resources and lack basic infrastructure and social services. The target areas are also prone to the risk of disasters.

The intervention began with studying and selecting two pilot locations in Al-Qabaitah district (Lahej) and Bur'a (Al-Hudaidah). The SFD studied the nature of interventions with the target communities, and later adopted various traditional processes implemented by the beneficiaries including the construction of walls of terraces, water drains, protection walls, and gabion baskets. The SFD assisted the beneficiaries to create an appropriate environment to include the agricultural integration system (forestry) to address and regain vegetation, as well as implemented campaigns to raise awareness among the farmers.

All operations were carried out, as per the beneficiaries' requirements, in traditional and excellent ways that met the desired purpose under the supervision of experienced engineers. The beneficiaries' enthusiasm for the project and their readiness to complete the required contribution has contributed to the success of this experiment. The SFD is continuously providing technical support to the project.