By Maram Darwish, Nina Jovanovic, Sikandra Kurdi, Futoshi Yamauchi, and SMEPS Communication and Advocacy Team
Yemen faces one of the most significant humanitarian crises globally, with approximately 21.6 million people in need of some form of assistance, and an estimated 2.25 million children suffering from acute malnutrition. The situation is expected to worsen due to the country’s compromised food systems, local infrastructure, economy, and reliance on seasonal rainfall and groundwater sources for agricultural production. The ongoing conflicts, the great increase in prices of food commodities caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, and the unreliable access to diesel for pumping well water add yet another layer of complexity to an already dire situation, posing a great risk to country’s food security.
The Impact Evaluation of the Solar Irrigation Program in Yemen aims to evaluate the impact of implementing solar-powered water pumps and water-conserving irrigation systems on water accessibility, water consumption, irrigation costs, productivity, and livelihoods.
The intervention took place in 14 communities, encompassing 16 wells, across 5 districts in Hadhramaut: Al Qatn, Tarim, Sah, Sayun, and Ghayl Bin Yamin. Well operators and respective smallholder farmers were provided with financial grants and technical support. Financial grants were provided to each well operator to procure solar panels and solar-powered water pumps in return for a commitment to provide water to 4 to 10 smallholder farmers. Whereas smallholder farmers’ grants were provided to procure drip irrigation system for at least 0.25 hectares of farming land, and other agricultural inputs such as seeds and seedlings, mulch, and fertilizers, according to their preferences, to promote modern, sustainable practices and maximize yields and product quality.
Technical support component of the intervention was in the form of technical training through agronomists and linking the beneficiaries with other market players such as input suppliers and microfinance institutions. Beneficiaries received technical training on the components and operation of solar-powered water pumps, including the different types available and their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the daily and periodic maintenance required to keep solar-powered pumps functioning optimally. They also delved into the technical, economic, and environmental feasibility of employing solar-powered pumps in their contexts. Moreover, the training emphasized the importance and methodology of linking solar-powered pumps to a modern, water-conserving irrigation network. Lastly, the training covered the safety and security measures during installation and operation.
Beneficiary farmers have shown promising outcomes of the technical component of the intervention, supporting that the training extends beyond mere skill acquisition:
“Moreover, if I decide to plant a new field, I have the necessary knowledge to do so. This was built up through the training I learned about plant diseases and proper pesticide application methods. I discovered diseases that I was previously unaware of and that significantly impacted my yield, even causing me to lose the entire farm on several occasions due to my lack of knowledge in these matters." – Sah
In November 2023, we conducted a baseline survey and discovered that 100% of the farmers in our study relied on flooding or furrows to irrigate their land. They used either diesel-powered or electric pumps but encountered difficulties in accessing water. Specifically, 49% of the farmers, who used diesel-powered pumps, incurred steep costs, averaging 1,250 Yemeni riyals per liter of diesel, in addition to transportation costs. Anecdotal stories from the field shed light on the unreliable access to diesel and how the solar irrigation systems have solved their struggle.
“We were tired of diesel and its high prices. In the past, when I started the water pump, it took at least an hour for the water to reach my farm. But now it reaches it immediately. It used to take me about 18 hours to water the zucchini crop, but now I can do the same job in just half an hour." – Sayun
For 51% of farmers who relied on electric water pumps, recurrent power outages were their main challenge. One farmer from Sayun reported:
"We used to sleep next to the electricity meters, so that we would be woken up when the electricity came back so that we could rush to our farms to water them before the electricity went out again. We used to suffer from interrupted sleep due to power outages that could last up to seven hours a day. But now there is no need to worry, and we no longer suffer from insomnia. I cried with joy when I received the grant, because it will change the course of my life and my family's” – Sayun
Solar irrigation systems have encouraged farmers to plant new crops. The farmers who were randomly assigned to the treatment group grew new produce like okra, chili peppers, and zucchini during the summer season, contrasting with their planting activities from the previous year.
"Three years ago, we stopped growing many crops because of the high cost of fuel. But this season we have returned to farming and with more varieties than before, as we no longer worry about fuel after getting solar irrigation systems. Pumping water is much better now than before." – Sayun
Moreover, anecdotes have demonstrated significant improvements in the time spent on irrigation since the installation of solar-powered pumps and drip irrigation systems.
“I no longer have to spend time monitoring the fields irrigation now that we started using drip irrigation and solar irrigation pump systems. Irrigation is now an automated process and does not require much time or efforts.” – Sah
In conclusion, the transformative impact of embracing solar energy is evident in alleviating financial burdens and enhancing the overall efficiency of farmers. The adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems holds great promise for improving agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental sustainability in Yemen.
"As for my experience with solar irrigation pump systems, they have saved time and plenty of water. I used to irrigate the farm for 2-3 hours, but now I can complete the whole task in just 45 minutes. Additionally, nomadic herders from the mountains come to me in search of water. I am not the only beneficiary; many people come to fill their water tanks from our tank which proves that the project outcomes are sustainable and successful.” – Sah
Moreover, dispensing with diesel and embracing solar energy has motivated the directorate to explore viable options for extending these benefits to other farmers.
"In recent years, we have failed miserably as farmers and we have suffered a deficit due to the machinery and diesel, and solar energy pumps have saved us. Among the ideas that the directorate is currently pursuing, after seeing our experiences, is trying to find a shared solution for the rest of the farmers who were not within the circle of beneficiaries of the project.” – Ghayl Bin Yamin
The endline survey was conducted in November 2024. It collected data on yields of crops planted by smallholder farmers, agricultural income generated, total income received from various income sources, and consumption of food items from different food groups. We also collected data on water consumption and extraction, farming practices, and food availability.
Maram Darwish is a Senior Research Assistant in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit at IFPRI, Nina Jovanovic is an Associate Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit at IFPRI, Sikandra Kurdi is a Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit at IFPRI, Futoshi Yamauchi is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit at IFPRI, SMEPS is Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service, Yemen.
This project is funded by the Government of Japan. This work is part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration (FCM).
