Chapter
4:
Context
and
contextual
changes
Other
sources
of
water
(surface
water
and
spate
floods),
which
also
influence
the
recharge
of
groundwater,
are
not
readily
available
due
to
highly
variable
annual
rainfall
patterns.
Infrastructure
has
been
constructed
by
the
Yemeni
Government
to
make
better
use
of
the
surface
and
spate
flows.
The
Ministry
of
Agriculture
and
Irrigation
(MAI)
considers
expansion
of
water
infrastructure
(dams)
to
expand
agricultural
production
of
the
(spate)
irrigation
systems
(MAI,
2012).
There
are
currently
over
50
diversion
weirs
and
main
distribution
canals
(Yehya
and
Al-‐Asbahi,
2005).
Dykes
are
built
on
main
wadis
to
direct
spates
into
irrigation
systems.
Approximately
120,000-‐150,000ha
in
the
low
lands
of
the
country
are
irrigated
by
spate
systems.
There
are
also
around
of
800
medium
and
small
dams
for
rainfall
water
harvesting
in
the
highlands
(Yehya
and
Al-‐Asbahi,
2005).
Although
real
time
data
on
water
availability
and
monitoring
systems
are
insufficient
in
Yemen,
Table
4.3
shows
that
an
unsustainable
amount
of
water
is
used.
The
area
under
irrigation
in
Yemen
is
still
increasing.
MetaMeta
Research
and
PAN
Yemen
Consult
(2013)
estimate
that
4-‐15%
water
saving
in
irrigated
agriculture
can
be
realized
by
improved
irrigation
methods.
They
conclude
that
a
dramatic
intervention
is
required
to
reverse
the
increase
in
water
consumption.
Table
4.3:
Use
of
Water
for
a
Period
of
20
Years
(1990-‐2010)
in
Different
Water
Use
Sectors
(Mm3/Yr)
MAI
(2013)
Yehya
and
MAI
Asbahi,
(2013)
2005)
Yehya
and
Yehya
and
MAI
Asbahi,
Asbahi,
(2013)
2005)
2005)
Yehya
and
(MetaMeta
Asbahi,
Research
and
PAN
2005)
Yemen
Consult,
2013)
Agriculture
2700
2600
2988
3145
3235
3261
3328
20.8%
Domestic
/
166
Municipal
168
300
210
265
553
552
233%
Industrial
and
Mining
31
31
72
45
65
109
90
251%
Total
2897
2799
3360
3400
3565
3923
3970
35.4%
400
860
1420
255%
Deficit
Source:
MAI
2013,
Yehya
and
Asbahi
2005,
MetaMeta
Research
and
PAN
Yemen
Consult
2013
4.3.3
Agriculture
Despite
contributing
to
only
8.4
percent
of
Yemen’s
GDP
in
2011,
agriculture
is
by
far
the
largest
water
user
and
accounts
for
85
percent
of
the
total
water
use.
It
is
also
the
sector
a
large
part
of
the
Yemeni
population,
who
are
rural,
is
dependent
on
for
their
livelihoods.
Table
X
provides
an
overview
of
how
much
different
crops
contribute
t