The dry season and cold temperatures that prevailed in late January 2025 in Yemen are expected to continue into February, with persistently low precipitation levels, particularly in highlands, according to a press release by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO found that “As February marks the beginning of the planting season phase for several key crops in Yemen, particularly in rain fed highland areas and irrigated lowland regions, extended dry conditions coupled with frost-level cold temperatures, may pose challenges for land preparation and germination in some areas.
FAO expressed its concerns that Yemen might faces a risk of extended dry conditions in the first ten days of February 2025, leading to drought in some areas, severely impacting agriculture, particularly key crops like wheat, barley, and maize, and straining irrigation systems.
While temperatures in Yemen are expected to rise slightly compared to the previous month leading to increasing the risk of frost, with varying likelihoods across different governorates.
FAO concluded that Rain fed farmers will likely experience delays in soil moisture recovery, impacting early planting preparations, while in the Eastern Plateau, of Yemen the winter harvest is unlikely to be severely impacted due to its late stage in the season.
As per Irrigation-dependent crops it may require increased water use, where water availability could be limited in some areas due to the over-extraction of groundwater resources.
FAO advised Yemen's Authorities and Humanitarian Partners to monitor Weather Patterns by Maintaining early warning systems, providing timely updates on expected rainfall and temperature fluctuations, and support Smallholder Farmers by providing access to drought-resistant seeds, fertilizers, and technical guidance.