The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Wednesday that Yemen’s agricultural lands are undergoing rapid degradation, posing a serious threat to the country’s food security.
UNDP report added that vast areas of arable land are facing the growing risks of desertification and drought, and that recent data shows that nearly 97% of Yemen’s farmland is at risk of desertification, with the country losing 3% to 5% of its cultivable land annually due to environmental degradation.
In an effort to confront this crisis, the report acknowledged that some regions in Yemen have begun adopting sustainable farming techniques, which have proven effective in improving crop quality and increasing productivity despite environmental challenges.
The warning comes amid Yemen’s ongoing multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis, where desertification is worsening the already severe food insecurity affecting millions of Yemenis.
UNDP report concluded that international organizations are working to support Yemeni farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices that help preserve soil health and boost production, even under harsh climate conditions.