As climate change intensifies, Yemeni farmers like Saeeda face mounting challenges. Rainfall has decreased dramatically, leaving coffee trees, and the families who depend on them, vulnerable.

In response, UNDP, in partnership with the Public Works Project, has constructed rainwater harvesting tanks across the region as part of the Food Security Response and Resilience Project, (FSRRP), funded and supported by the World Bank. These tanks provide crucial water reserves for coffee farming during Yemen’s dry months.

 In Sabr Al-Mawadem, two 400 cubic metre tanks have already made a difference. They’ve allowed Saeeda and a handful of other farmers to maintain their crops through recent droughts.

“Only the farmers who used water from the Public Works Project tanks saw their production improve this season.”

Still, she notes the pressing need for more tanks for the entire valley.

Harvest season is a time of unity and tradition in Sabr Al-Mawadem. Each morning, Saeeda gathers her family to pick the ripened cherries before sunrise. As they work, they share stories, sing folk songs, and reminisce about past seasons and the elders who came before them.

“It’s a time to come together, not just as a family, but as a community.”

-Saeeda says with pride

The harvested cherries are carefully spread on rooftops to dry, a process that takes several months and to protect their quality, requires constant attention.

“Getting to the point of having a cup of coffee to drink isn’t easy. It takes nearly nine months of dedication.”

While Saeeda tends to her fields with dedication, she dreams of a future where Yemeni young people will carry forward the country’s coffee legacy. As the head of her family’s farm, she encourages younger farmers to value coffee for its economic potential and cultural importance.

“The youth can benefit from coffee’s returns while preserving our heritage.”

-Saeeda says, urging local leaders to invest in agricultural tools and resources that will empower the next generation.

Saeeda’s farm isn’t the only one transformed by FSRRP’s interventions. Across Yemen, farmers who’ve been supported by the project are achieving improved yields and resilience. In the coming years, UNDP and its partners aim to expand these resources to reach thousands more, strengthening food security, and stabilizing livelihoods in Yemen’s agricultural communities.