Between the dams of Marib and Hassan Abyan.. A promising Emirati strategy to achieve food security in Yemen
English - Sunday 11 December 2022 الساعة 02:38 pm
Aden, NewsYemen, exclusive:
Since ancient times, the United Arab Emirates has been hastening to adopt large development projects in Yemen, in several basic and service sectors, as part of a promising strategy aimed at achieving security and stability and providing a decent life.
Perhaps the most prominent project adopted by the UAE, and which remained immortal in the conscience and history of Yemen, is the project to rebuild and rehabilitate the Ma’rib Dam in 1982, which was adopted by the late philanthropist and first donor - God willing - Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, the founder and president of the sister country of the United Arab Emirates.
Over the years of successive wise leadership, the UAE has continued to provide generous support to Yemen through a continuous package of development and humanitarian projects, which embodied the depth of the sincere and strong brotherly relationship between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples. "Zayed Al-Khair" has become a name passed down from generation to generation and engraved in the memory of the Yemeni people, who exchange loyalty with loyalty.
Save the Marib Dam
The Marib Dam is considered one of the oldest dams in the world, and its construction dates back to the eighth century BC, at the hands of the Sabaeans, and historians and archaeologists considered it a historical miracle in the Arabian Peninsula. Archeology and historical inscriptions in Marib showed that the dam was not the only one built by the Sabeans to collect rainwater and benefit from it in agriculture, but it is the most famous, as it irrigates approximately 24,000 acres (about 98,000 square km).
The project of building the ancient Ma’rib Dam, in 1984, restored the spirit to the land of Sheba and its ancient civilization, and was considered - at the time - one of the largest development projects in Yemen, especially since the project is achieving an agricultural renaissance that Yemenis are still enjoying its fruits to this day.
The intervention of the wise Arab, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, may God have mercy on him, to save the Marib Dam dates back to April of the year 1982 when the UAE allocated nearly 3 million US dollars urgently to help the afflicted people who were affected by the floods in Yemen, and the deterioration of the Marib Dam that threatens the lives of Yemenis and destroys Farmland every now and then due to heavy rains.
And Sheikh Zayed adopted an integrated project to rebuild and secure the dam, and provide the necessary funds to complete this project, which puts a final solution to the main problem facing Yemen at the time.
In 1984, the Emirates provided additional funds to continue work on building the dam. On the second of October of the same year, the late Sheikh Zayed - God willing - laid the foundation stone for a project that would end the destruction caused by the floods and renew the fertility of thousands of hectares of arable land in the future. Two years later, Sheikh Zayed opened the dam, which finished work on it before the scheduled time. him, whose benefits extended to a large part of Yemen.
The UAE's support for the completion of the Ma'rib Dam did not stop there. On November 25, 2002, in the capital, Sana'a, an agreement was signed to implement the second phase of the dam project, at a cost of 87 million and 820 thousand dirhams, at Sheikh Zayed's private expense. The dam lake covers an area of 30 square kilometres, can accommodate 400 million cubic meters of water, and irrigates about 16,000 hectares of land.
Hassan Dam.. a new imprint
The Abyan Delta region is considered one of the most fertile agricultural regions, due to its unique clay components that were formed by the sedimentation of Wadi Bana and Wadi Hassan during the seasonal floods. The agricultural area in Wadi Hassan is about 10,000 hectares, of which 5,000 hectares are currently cultivated. Wadi Hassan is about 77 km northeast of the capital, Aden.
During the past few days, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, announced the launch of one of the most important strategic projects in Abyan Governorate, represented by the Hassan Dam project, which comes with funding from the UAE as part of the efforts aimed at reviving the agricultural sector and strengthening the national economy, especially since Delta Abyan is one of the fertile Yemeni lands that are rich in agriculture and various crops.
Al-Alimi said, during the announcement of the project: "The Hassan Dam project in Abyan governorate, funded by the UAE, is one of the important strategic projects that would represent a strong impetus for the agricultural sector in the governorate, and for our food and water security in general, pursuant to our common slogan: A hand for adoption and a hand for arms."
The Wadi Hassan Dam is one of the largest dams in the southern governorates, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The Wadi Hassan Dam project aims to control floods and regulate irrigation for the lands benefiting from the valley. The project includes a storage dam with a storage capacity of 19.5 million cubic meters.
The number of beneficiaries of the project is 13,000, and the project will feed 75 water wells in Aden, Abyan, and Lahj. According to studies, the length of the dam at the summit is 337 meters, and its width at the summit is 6 meters. The area of the dam lake is 2.42 square kilometers, and the collection area is 3,200 square meters. square kilometers, and the average annual water flow is about 39 million cubic meters, and the highest water level in the dam will reach 135.5 meters.
An urgent need for a dam
Abyan governorate, in southern Yemen, is one of the most agricultural governorates producing various crops in the country. This province is characterized by its mild climate and soil fertility. Abyan is famous for its 15 valleys, in addition to the torrential streams that descend from various regions of the country, and pass through them to pour into the waters of the Arabian Sea in a large way.
The arable areas in the governorate, which has an area of about 21,489 square kilometers, are divided into three, the first of which is the coastal areas and includes (Abyan Delta, Ahwar Delta, and Yaramis), which constitute the largest agricultural areas in the governorate in terms of area. Then come the mid-elevation areas; It includes the areas of (Lawdar, Mudiyah, Al-Mahfad, Sibah, Sawad, and Rasd), and it ranks second in terms of agricultural area. While the mountainous areas (Jishan and Daman) come in the third rank in terms of agricultural area.
Irrigation through torrential waters in the Abyan delta is considered the lifeblood of goodness and abundant sustenance. During the past months, the governorate witnessed a large flow of torrential rains, which reached the valleys of Benaa and Hassan, unprecedented since 1982, according to observers in the agricultural sector and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in the governorate. As the water level rose to more than (8 meters), which threatened to invade a number of areas in the Abyan Delta after the destruction of the Gabion defenses and their complete collapse, and the torrents washed away large areas of agricultural lands.
The large water flowing in the valleys is not utilized because of the rain, but most of that amount goes to sea water, because there are no large dams that reserve this wasted water that can be used as a strategic stock in agriculture.
The farmer, Saleh Yaslam, in the Khanfar district, confirms that many farms in the Abyan delta have been damaged by the torrential torrential rains that flow in the valleys during the rainy season, and many agricultural lands are today threatened with erosion, especially since the forts and defenses have been severely damaged and some of them are destroyed.
He said: Recently, torrential rains damaged more than 60 acres of agricultural land in the Khanfar district, which is one of the largest agricultural areas in Abyan, and only 250 acres of those lands remain after it was considered one of the most important agricultural areas exporting all kinds of vegetables and fruits.
Yaslam added: Agriculture in Khanfar has become in real and great danger in the event that the damage to the Gabion defenses that protected the area and agricultural lands from torrential rains was not quickly repaired.
promising strategy
Food security is one of the urgent matters for the growth of the economy of any country, as the governments of countries rush to develop plans and policies to devise projects that contribute to providing solutions to achieve this security and create sustainable livelihoods.
Perhaps supporting agricultural and rural development and preserving environmental protection is one of the most important economic plans and policies that countries are working on in light of the lack of groundwater, the increasing population growth and the rise in consumer needs, leading to climate changes and the decline of agriculture due to the lack of rain water.
The project to build Wadi Hassan in Abyan governorate is part of the water security strategy, as this strategy aims to ensure the sustainability and continuity of access to water during normal and emergency conditions. In this way, this strategy will contribute to the prosperity and progress of society and the preservation of the growth of the national economy.
The project will contribute to reducing water scarcity, increasing water use efficiency in agriculture, reducing pressure on groundwater used in agriculture, and providing future water needs in a sustainable manner. In addition to encouraging harvesting systems, expanding green areas, and encouraging farmers to continue and reproduce important and necessary crops, especially wheat.
The project of building the Hassan Dam remained a dream for the people of Abyan for a long time. Since 1994, he has been imprisoned in the drawers, being transferred from year to year and from government to government, amid false promises, the results of which were disastrous, after the confinement of agricultural lands in the Abyan Delta due to urban expansion, not to mention the drought and desertification resulting from the lack of water and the depletion of underground reserves.
According to agricultural researchers in Abyan, the rebuilding of the Wadi Hassan agricultural dam is of great importance to the agricultural sector and farmers and will contribute to the regulation of irrigation for large areas of agricultural lands located within the framework of the dam and encourage the reclamation of wastelands and benefit from the torrential waters that are currently wasted into the sea. In increasing and improving agricultural production, improving the income level of farmers, and supplying the local market with various agricultural products, and it will contribute to combating poverty by employing a large number of unemployed people from the governorate .
Abyan.. the food basket is back
Over the years, the agricultural sector in Abyan has been a source of income for the majority of citizens, as 70% of the governorate's population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Abyan produces a variety of agricultural crops, which constitute 5% of the agricultural production in Yemen. Cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables, as well as cash crops such as cotton and coffee, are the most important crops produced by the governorate. The total production of these crops increased to 228,141 tons.
Despite its ability to significantly and significantly raise the country's economic income level, neglect and indifference to this gem was present on the part of all previous governments that took turns running the country. In addition, the flood waters did not reach some agricultural lands for long periods of time, which led to their desertification and made them vulnerable to exploitation by landowners and converting them into residential lands.
A dream come true after a long wait
The announcement of the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, regarding the agreement to start the first phase of the Wadi Hassan strategic dam construction project in Abyan, at a cost of $100 million, was highly resonated with funding from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Government and local leaders in Abyan welcomed the realization of this long-awaited dream, explaining that this project is one of the important strategic projects that will push the agricultural sector forward, restore Abyan governorate to its agricultural and productive position, and return strongly as a food basket that will cover Abyan and all Yemeni governorates.
The governor of Abyan, Abu Bakr Hussein, said that the re-start of work on the Hassan Dam project, which was halted as a result of the situation and turmoil in the year 2011 , bodes well. Bin Zayed, for this kind, important and blessed step, which undoubtedly will have a positive impact on advancing the agricultural situation in the Abyan Delta, which is famous for its fertile land and produces the best agricultural crops.
For his part, the Director General of Khanfar District, Attorney Mazen Al-Yousifi confirmed. This important project will alleviate the suffering of farmers, will serve agriculture and farmers, and will contribute to increasing the agricultural area and increasing and improving agricultural production, explaining that the Hassan Dam construction project has always been a dream and obsession of the people of the province due to its importance in advancing the agricultural process forward and benefiting from torrential waters in irrigating agricultural lands.
