LocationsRehabilitating irrigation infrastructure to strengthen farming livelihoods in Lahj
March 24, 2026
A woman fetching water.
A rehabilitated irrigation canal in Joal Al-Msareef is improving water management, securing farmlands, and supporting rural communities in Al-Mosaymer District.
Agricultural activities in Joal Al-Msareef, Al-Mosaymer District in Lahj Governorate, Yemen, rely on small traditional irrigation canals that convey water to the surrounding farms. For many years, these canals were frequently affected by seasonal floods and erosion. Maintaining water flow required continuous manual work, with farmers regularly repairing earthen channels to ensure water reached their fields.
To address these challenges, the Integrated Water Resources Management to Enhance Resilience of Agriculture (ERA) Project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), is supporting the reconstruction of the Joal Al-Msareef irrigation canal, helping improve water management and agricultural stability in the area. The intervention includes excavation works, the construction of stone masonry walls with cement mortar, and stone-cement lining along a 100-metre section of the canal. The project has also introduced protection works and a side overflow weir, which help manage excess water during heavy rainfall and reduce damage from seasonal floods.
The rehabilitated canal directly supports 95 farmers and residents and helps protect approximately 76,440 square meters of agricultural land. It supports the livelihoods of farmers, while also indirectly assisting farming households associated with irrigation.
Beyond water availability, farmers in the area also face water quality concerns. Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), a water-related disease caused by parasitic worms that affect the intestines or urinary system, is present in some irrigation sources, posing health risks for people who spend long periods working in the water.
Among the farmers who rely on the canal are Ertiah, Ahmed, and Abdulaleem, who cultivate small farms alongside other members of the local farming community. Like many farmers in the area, they previously relied on manually dug channels and shared water schedules to irrigate their land.
Women farm their land in Al-Mosaymer.
“The challenges between families often start with water,” says Ertiah, a farmer and head of the local women’s agricultural sector. “When water becomes scarce, tension rises. Improving the canal helps bring more stability to the community.”
Ahmed prepares to send his crop to the market.
Ahmed believes reliable irrigation connects to agricultural productivity. “When water is not consistent, we work more but produce less,” he explains. “If irrigation becomes more stable, farmers can focus more on their land and crops.”
Abdulsaleem tends to his banana crop.
Similarly, Abdulaleem highlights the importance of improved infrastructure for farming communities. “Sometimes, farmers lose crops because water does not reach the fields at the right time. Rehabilitating the canal helps ensure that the effort farmers put into their land leads to better results.”
By strengthening the canal structure and improving water flow, the project aims to increase irrigation reliability, reduce maintenance efforts for farmers, and protect agricultural land from flood damage. These improvements also facilitate more efficient water distribution services, strengthen the resilience of rural farming systems, and sustain livelihoods through improvements in agricultural productivity and food security.
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