Yemeni Farmers Reclaim Their Land and Restore Water Access [EN/AR]

Tarim, Yemen – Farming is the lifeblood of Tarim. Nearly every family depends on the land, and when crops flourish, so does the community. Food is abundant, prices remain steady, and neighbours share in the season’s harvest. But as temperatures rise and the fields dry out, farming becomes a struggle. Prices soar and even the most basic staples slip out of reach for many families.

“Agriculture is everything here,” says Nawwaf, offering us dates from a nearby tree. He grew up with the tradition of sharing what the land provides, a way of life that has bound his community together for generations. “When you walk past a farm, the farmers invite you to taste what they have grown.”

But in recent years, that tradition has been under threat. Devastating floods have eroded its fertile lands, washing away crops and displacing farming families. Meanwhile, prolonged droughts have made recovery even harder.

Water, once the backbone of Tarim’s prosperity, has become a source of struggle. In both Tarim and neighbouring Seiyun, competition over scarce water resources has intensified due to unregulated use, rising demand, and climate change. Limited irrigation has left farmers fighting to keep their crops alive. Many have been forced to abandon farming altogether, seeking any means to support their families.

Unlike many in his town, Nawwaf never had the chance to work the land. As one of ten siblings, he learned early on that survival meant sacrifice. When his father passed away, he had no choice but to leave school and take a basic job in an office, putting his family’s needs ahead of his own dreams.

Now 25, he and his younger brother work tirelessly to provide for their family. They cover medical expenses for their older brother, who is too ill to work, and do everything they can to keep their younger siblings in school.

But despite their efforts, it’s never enough. “Our family is going through a difficult time, and we need all the help we can get,” Nawwaf admits. The kindness of neighbours only goes so far and his debt at the grocery store continues to pile up. No matter how hard he works, it never seems to be enough. “What we make barely covers our expenses,” he says.

With so many families in Tarim facing the same struggle, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), introduced a cash-for-work initiative. This approach offers short-term jobs to people like Nawwaf, allowing them to earn an income while helping restore water and irrigation systems – work that not only puts money in their pockets but also ensures the land they depend on can keep producing for generations to come.

The programme was a chance for Nawwaf and many others to earn an income while giving back to their community. “We told them we were ready to do any type of work and that we would do our very best with it,” he says.

For two weeks, Nawwaf and his team spent long hours hacking away overgrown plants and restoring pathways that had been overtaken by weeds. These efforts helped farmers regain access to their fields and improved the overall condition of the land. More importantly, it gave them a sense of purpose and relief, however temporary.

“We gave each farm two or three days to clear it, and by the end, we had worked on all the farms in our area,” he says with pride.

With the money he earned, Nawwaf was able to purchase supplies for his household, cover part of his siblings’ school fees, and pay off some of the debts his family owed. “This programme has helped a lot of people in our area,” Nawwaf shares. “Everyone wishes it could continue for another month or two. Most people here have been struggling to find work for a long time and they have families to provide for.”

Nawwaf is convinced that the work they did will make a real difference for farmers. “Some couldn’t grow crops because their land was covered in hemp and weeds,” he explains. “They would spend so much time just to clear the land before they could even start planting.” Clearing the land meant that irrigation water could finally reach the palm trees, giving farmers a chance to cultivate their land more effectively.

Still, he knows that work alone won’t change everything. He dreams of continuing his studies, but he can’t bring himself to leave his younger brother to bear their family’s burdens alone. “It would be too much for him to provide for the family on his own,” he says.

Despite this, Nawwaf remains hopeful. “When my father was alive, he would never let us work – he always told us to focus on our education.” With these words in mind, he encourages his younger siblings to study while they still can, reminding them that education opens doors, even when the future seems uncertain.

The rehabilitation of water and irrigation infrastructure in Seiyun and Tarim was made possible through the “Water for Peace in Yemen” project, implemented with the generous support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

This story was written by Monica Chiriac, Media and Communications Officer with IOM Yemen.