Murad al-Jaghman, 50, a farmer from Jafinah – Marib -  in describing the situation of farmers in his areas, he said the situation today is so much better than before. Crop production of their farmers have increased, especially grains – and the arable land has nearly doubled. Livestock production has been thriving and residents are now food secure for the entire year.

Several months ago, most of the arable land in Jafinah were barren with no vegetation at all, except for small batches here and there. Living conditions for many of the farmers were way below the poverty line. That's because the farmers depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihoods and food for the whole year. However, the farms had deteriorated badly. The current situation in the country had left an adverse impact on every home and farming family - no one has been spared – and has left the land in a state that truly reflects the real conditions of people under the circumstances.

Food Insecurity

Hajj Jaghman, a farmer, recounts how green vegetation covered all Jafinah farms and surrounding areas, and how farmers and their families were leading a good life on average - with their food needs secured for the whole year. However, the current situation hit hard on the farmers:  their farms were devastated and destroyed, costs of inputs have been onerous and unaffordable. Farmers rely on water from artesian wells to irrigate their land. The water is pumped and transferred through primitive dirt channels increasing the water loss causing huge losses for farmers. Fuel prices have risen so high the entire year's crop production doesn't even cover such cost. That's why most farms were abandoned to desertification, and the lives of farmers and families have been shattered.

Recovery

Mohamed al-Muradi, another farmer, agrees with Hajj Jaghman and adds:"The intervention by the PWP in implementing a subproject to reduce water loss in the distribution network in Jafinah – under the World Bank funded YECRP, which is administered by the UNDP – restored life to the land and to the farmers after the land had fallen prey to desertification turning it into a useless barren empty land."

Food is Now Plentiful

Al-Muradi asserts that the water loss caused by the inefficient dirt distribution water channels was more than double that used in irrigation. However, after the implementation of the subproject to reduce the loss and connection of the farmers to the wells, life has returned to normal, living conditions for the farmers and their families improved, farmers have returned to tending to their livestock since feeds are now available throughout the year and they don't have to buy them at high costs In dry seasons; the area of irrigated land has increased, thereby increasing production of crops; farmers have been able to secure enough grain for their consumption for a full year and sell the surplus in the market; they also have been able to sell their vegetables in the market, all of that is contributing to the realization of food security for farmers in Jafinah area.