DUBAI, 8 May 2008 (IRIN) - Yemen's agricultural sector faces challenges as a result of changes in rainfall patterns and an extended low temperature season in recent years, experts say.

"Normally, the rains start in March, which was not the case this year or in the past few years. The rainy season has not started [and this] will affect agriculture dramatically," Anwar Abdulaziz, head of the Climate Change Unit at the General Authority of Environment Preservation, told IRIN.

"Yemen is still experiencing cold weather conditions, although the temperature is expected to be higher at this time of the year," he said.

A March 2008 UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report on the Near East said: "Yemen is particularly at risk because of its existing low income levels, rapidly growing population and acute water shortage."

Climate change is affecting three main spheres in the country - water resources, agriculture and coastal areas, according to Abdulaziz. "We worked on a plan to adapt with climate change and focused on priorities in these three areas. We put forward a number of procedures that could help these sectors adapt with climate change," he said.

Citing examples of adaptation in each sphere, Abdulaziz said: "The programme suggested building small water catchments and dams to preserve the rain that falls in desert areas and increase groundwater [levels]. The water can be used in times of drought for irrigation purposes. It recommended building breakwater systems in areas prone to high levels of sea water, and preserving mangrove trees and planting them in new areas to protect coastal areas [from flooding]. Terraces were also one of the suggested procedures to avoid soil erosion."

In April, Yemen hosted the Least Developed Countries Fund, a body set up under the auspices of the Global Environment Fund and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to help least developed countries adapt to climate change. "We presented Yemen's work plan during this meeting and await the experts' feedback," Abdulaziz said.

Cold weather

"Cold weather… has delayed the ripening of fruit that should be on the market by now. This might decrease production by 25 percent. Most affected are figs, mangoes, apples, quinces, guavas, dates, grapes and pomegranates. These fruits are important for food security and limited quantities go for export," Mansour al Aqil, director-general the General Department for Agricultural Information at the Ministry of Agriculture, told IRIN. "Around 50 percent of prunus tree blossoms were destroyed and this will affect production rates," he said.

According to the Agricultural Statistics Report 2007, Yemen had 1.3 million hectares of irrigated land in 2006, of which 661,152 hectares depended on rainfall for irrigation. Sorghum was planted on about 453,000 hectares of land, millet on 82, 276 hectares, maize on 65, 890, and wheat on 27,745 hectares.

Sorghum not yet planted

Sorghum is planted in all areas… and is used in rural areas as the main grain for producing bread," Al Aqil said. "Sorghum is usually planted in April with the advent of rain. So far, farmers have not planted sorghum and will have to replace it with maize if rain falls in May. But this will be no substitute because sorghum is used as grain, fodder, fuel and as a raw material for building shacks for people living in rural areas - 73 percent of Yemen's 21.7 million population," he said.

According to him, 52 percent of Yemen's workforce (9.8 million according to the 2004 census) works in agriculture.

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