High temperatures and drought during June demonstrated the necessity of adopting climate adaptation strategies
Summary:
The heat wave and drought that struck Yemen in June 2024 led to dire consequences for the agricultural sector and livelihoods in rural areas.
Farmers' depletion of groundwater to cope with drought threatens long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability.
High temperatures and the movement of dust have negatively affected public health, especially the elderly and respiratory patients.
Yemen saw a severe increase in temperature and a lack of precipitation in June 2024, which significantly impacted several sectors, including agriculture and rural lives. To address these enduring difficulties, these severe climatic conditions—made worse by global climate change—require coordinated efforts and comprehensive adaptation measures.
Many farmers have temporarily suspended their agricultural activities due to crop stress and low yield caused by high temperatures and drought. The intense heat also caused a significant fatality rate among livestock, particularly chickens. Food security is in jeopardy, and farmers' and livestock producers' profits are severely impacted.
To satisfy the demands of irrigated crops, many farmers have turned to expanding groundwater pumping, which poses a long-term risk of declining available quantities and deteriorating water quality. The viability of agriculture and the ecosystem are seriously threatened by this excessive groundwater depletion.
These unfavorable circumstances had an impact on public health in addition to the agriculture industry. The health sector is under more strain due to the increased suffering of respiratory patients and the elderly due to high temperatures and dust movement in coastal and desert locations.
Yemen has to use a range of all-encompassing adaptive methods, such as the following, to deal with these escalating problems:
Create early warning systems: To monitor climate change and notify farmers and nearby populations of the onset of heatwaves and drought, as well as the need for them to take the appropriate preventive action, it is imperative to create efficient early warning systems.
Crop diversification: To increase the resilience of agricultural systems, farmers should be encouraged to pick heat- and drought-resistant varieties of their crops.
Enhance water management: To increase water use efficiency and decrease waste, modern, efficient irrigation systems like drip and sprinkler irrigation should be employed, and the use of rainwater gathering techniques should be encouraged.
Forest Protection: Since forests are essential for regulating the climate and mitigating the consequences of climate change, efforts should be taken to preserve them and improve the vegetation they support.
Building Capacity: Local communities and farmers should get education and training on climate change adaptation and optimal agricultural practices.
Infrastructure development: To store and supply water during dry spells, money needs to be invested in creating water infrastructure, such as dams and reservoirs.
Encourage scientific research: To provide creative solutions suitable for regional circumstances, scientific research in the areas of agriculture, water, and climate change should be promoted.
Yemen is dealing with more extreme weather events, which calls for coordinated action and the implementation of long-term adaptation measures. Yemen can remain resilient to climate change, safeguard its natural resources, and guarantee food security for future generations by making investments in sustainable agriculture, effective water management, and capacity-building techniques.
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