By Elyas Alshami, Yaseen Al dawaa, & Saleem Al-Jaradi

BENEATH THE SURFACE: THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE

Beneath the surface, the lifeblood of the ecosystem and agriculture exists, providing fertile ground for all organisms to breed and dwell. The soil, enormously supporting all life aspects on Earth, provides the essence of all life services. Just like a father who exists to nurture and nourish his children, soil, too, provides sustenance, protection, and a home for countless creatures, securing food for all creatures living on the planet.

A healthy Soil functions as the foundation of the ecosystem by providing numerous services for food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity. When healthy, the soil ensures the production of nutritious crops, guaranteeing the populations’ food security worldwide. Not only this but also, acting as a carbon sink, the soil absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helps to mitigate climate change. Hence, regulating carbon levels contributes to better climate resilience. Additionally, the soil is the habitat for the majority of organisms, ranging from the tiniest creatures like bacteria to the most gargantuan ones like dinosaurs. These organisms, when decomposing organic matter, cycle nutrients, and maintain soil structure. Thus, this biodiversity contributes to having a healthier ecosystem and sustainable agriculture.

When giving attention to the soil, agriculture in any place in the world flourishes. Having a healthy soil structure contributes to more root development, enabling plants to access the soil efficiently. It is worth mentioning that soil when taken care of, regulates soil moisture, prevents erosion, and supports microbial activity, all of which are significant elements for agriculture sustainability.

YEMEN'S RESILIENT FARMERS

Yemen, a country with a great history in agriculture, is well-known for having the most experienced and skillful farmers, being able to adapt to all harsh environmental disasters, and utilizing the scarce resources available. The Yemeni farmer has proven over the years his ability to protect the soil by creating ancient agricultural methodologies like building agricultural terraces, depending on crop rotation, and using organic fertilizers. Notwithstanding Yemen's longstanding agricultural heritage, soil is suffocating owing to many health challenges, emerged in the past years.

The Yemeni farmers, seemingly perplexed, are challenged with many dilemmas, encountering the soil. A vast range of issues have emerged including desertification, soil erosion, salinization, and pollution. All of these prominent obstacles stand between achieving a better life for the farmers and their families, as well as meeting their commitment to sustain the communities and the environment.

SMEPS'S COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SOIL RESTORATION

Among all these crises facing the soil in Yemen, SMEPS, striving for development in all sectors, has come to provide and restore livelihoods to rural households in the three sectors (agriculture, livestock, and fisheries). Established in 2005, SMEPS, a subsidiary of the Social Fund for Development (SFD), which is considered one of the biggest leading national organizations working in development since 1997 evinced no reluctance to support the Yemeni economy through private sector development under three main components: Value Chain Development, Business Development Services, and Entrepreneurship. SMEPS has recognized the significance of developing the soil as it contributes to one of the most substantial aspects which is food security. Prior to intervening in soil development, the goals set by SMEPS to help the Yemeni soil revive consisted of numerous aspects including improving soil fertility, reducing erosion, promoting sustainable land management practices, conserving water resources, addressing pollution, and improving soil structure.

BEHIND THE SCENES: SMEPS'S WORK TO REVITALIZE YEMEN'S SOIL

SMEPS through a great number of projects implemented in Yemen has contributed thoroughly to Conservating soil and changing farmers’ knowledge. Not only did these projects support the farmers technically, but they also provided financial support that resulted in restoring soil in many areas of the country.

The technical support varied in terms of training farmers and guiding them to utilize the correct practices of soil treatment. These programs included training farmers on the proper use of fertilizers to minimize pollution, teaching them about crop rotation to reduce soil pressure, and demonstrating the benefits of agricultural mulch for soil conservation. Additionally, SMEPS has encouraged farmers to utilize plant and animal waste as natural fertilizers and to use seedlings instead of seeds to promote soil health. By implementing these practices, farmers became capable of restoring and protecting the soil of Yemen soil, working to achieve a sustainable and resilient agricultural future.

SMEPS financially has provided significant support to Yemeni farmers to better protect the soil from all the problems mentioned above. This support has included the installation of modern irrigation systems namely drip irrigation system, overhead and sprinkler irrigation systems to reduce water waste, prevent soil erosion, and minimize fertilizer leaching. Additionally, SMEPS has supported farmers with the purchase of agricultural gauze and hills to reduce the use of pesticides and protect water resources. To further reduce environmental impact, SMEPS has also provided solar panels to farmers, enabling them to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and minimize pollution. Finally, SMEPS has invested in waterpipes to connect irrigation drip systems, ensuring efficient water delivery and further preventing soil erosion.

SMEPS's work to save the soil and protect it has extended way beyond supporting the farmers. The agency has also invested in the private sector promoting innovative solutions for improving soil health. For example, SMEPS has supported a factory for compost production, which aims to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and reduce soil pollution. This factory's products can help farmers enhance soil fertility and improve crop yields while minimizing environmental damage. Additionally, SMEPS supported another factory that produces irrigation drip systems, an essential tool for efficient water delivery and soil conservation. Developing the infrastructure of the factory has helped the factory to increase the production of irrigation drip systems, enabling farmers to access them with ease.

Many investments in water infrastructure to support soil conservation were made by SMEPS. Constructing 20 rainwater harvesting tanks was SMEPS's latest achievement. These tanks work to collect precious rainfall and reduce reliance on groundwater sources. Additionally, SMEPS has built water pipes connecting these tanks to agricultural lands, which would enable farmers to use the collected rainwater for irrigation through drip systems. To further mitigate soil erosion and protect agricultural land, SMEPS has also constructed agricultural terraces and protective walls. These structures aid in preventing soil erosion, reducing the impact of floods, and creating a more stable environment for agricultural production.

The distribution of sprinkler and overhead irrigation systems to 190 farmers in Hadramout represents a qualitative shift in agriculture, as it contributes to rationalizing water consumption, increasing productivity and improving crop quality. These modern systems allow for accurate water distribution, which reduces waste consumption and ensures that water reaches the roots directly. Thus, farmers benefit from increased production and improved quality of their products, in addition to reducing operating costs in the long term. These systems also help farmers adapt to climate change and protect the soil, which contributes to achieving sustainable agriculture.

BEYOND THE NUMBERS: THE TRUE IMPACT OF SMEPS'S WORK

SMEPS's interventions have had a substantial positive impact on soil health and agricultural productivity in Yemen. The impact included reductions in water usage, fuel consumption, and waste generation, while also minimizing soil and water contamination.

SMEPS's projects have resulted in a 46.6% reduction in irrigation water usage (from 6,764 m³/0.25 ha/year to 3,613 m³/0.25 ha/year), a decrease in the amount of oil used for irrigation pumps (from 414 liters to 264.7 liters), and a waste reduction from 8% to 2%. Additionally, the use of fertilizers and pesticides has been significantly reduced, protecting both soil and water resources.

The number of fertilizers used to fertilize vegetable crops decreased from 213 kg to 173 kg after the intervention, helping to preserve the soil from contamination by chemical fertilizers. Similarly, the number of pesticides used on vegetable crops was reduced from 7 liters or kg to 4 liters or kg, contributing to healthier and safer food for communities and preserving biodiversity in the intervention areas.

These environmental benefits have been accompanied by significant improvements in agricultural productivity. The production of vegetable crops has increased by 73.7% (from 9.5 tons/0.25 hectares/year to 16.5 tons/0.25 hectares/year), leading to higher incomes for farmers and contributing to food security. The net income of beneficiary farmers has increased by 146% (from 1,180 US dollars/0.25 hectares/year to 2,904 US dollars/0.25 hectares/year), demonstrating the economic benefits of SMEPS's interventions.

SMEPS visually worked on documenting the support given and the impacts created. SMEPS’s camera has taken inspiring shots, when displayed, they make the watchers’ jaw drop. These pictures and videos show how SMEPS has worked tirelessly to protect Yemeni soil. This link is a video that was produced on the soil day, showcasing the impacts SMEPS’s projects have left on farmers' lives. https://youtu.be/g34KuEFcn_4?si=KXLXpUuCHTh9wCi7

SMEPS has not only improved soil health but has also contributed to sustainable agricultural practices and improved livelihoods for Yemeni farmers. SMEPS in the future will continue to use its comprehensive approach, including technical guidance, financial support, and investment in infrastructure, which has proven to be effective in addressing the challenges facing Yemen's agricultural sector.

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