LocationsHome gardens: Practical solutions for food security in rural Yemen
August 2, 2026
Maymouna and her grandson in her home garden.
In Al-Dhakhaf village, located in Qadas sub-district of Al-Mawaset District in Taiz Governorate, many families depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Yet years of economic hardship, rising agricultural input costs, water scarcity, and climate-related shocks have made it increasingly difficult for rural households to meet their food needs.
The agricultural sector provides employment for more than 50 per cent of the labour force and livelihoods for around 70 per cent of the population. Despite its importance, agriculture remains one of the sectors most affected by the crisis, exacerbating food insecurity and driving high levels of malnutrition, with women, children, displaced populations and marginalised communities among the most affected.
As climate change continues to affect Yemen through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and prolonged drought, home gardening has become an important economic lifeline for many rural households, providing fresh produce that helps reduce food expenditure while creating opportunities for additional income.
Zamzam is mother, and like many in her community, had a small piece of land next to her home that remained largely underutilised.
With support from the Integrated Water Resources Management to Enhance Resilience of Agriculture and Food Security (ERA) Project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank, Zamzam established her own home garden besides her house. “Agriculture is our family’s source of income. During the rainy season, we only used to cultivate maize from the land around our home. With the home gardening package, I was able to grow different crops throughout the year and provide vegetables for my family,” says Zamzam.
Zamzam holds tomatoes from her garden.
The home gardening package included a iron structure, polyethylene netting, a water tank, drip irrigation components, seeds, and essential farming tools to support productive home gardening.
Zamzam also enrolled in training on soil preparation, the use of natural organic fertilisers, water-efficient irrigation techniques, and the cultivation of fast-growing vegetables commonly used in meals. Within a few months, Zamzam’s home garden had transformed into a thriving green space.
“The first tomato harvest I sold provided enough money to buy school shoes for my daughter,” she says.
Looking ahead, Zamzam hopes to expand her garden, and increase production to meet household needs while selling surplus crops in local markets.
Zamzam and her daughter pick tomatoes.
Participants received awareness sessions and practical training on garden installation, maintenance, and the use of drip irrigation systems. Agricultural engineers also conducted regular field visits to support proper implementation and ensure sustainability of production.
Basema carries harvested tomatoes.
Basema, another farmer from Al-Dhakhaf village, and a mom of seven explains: “I started growing cucumbers and other vegetables. We no longer need to buy produce from the market, and the money we save helps us cover other household needs.”
Maymouna, another participant, explains: “Before the project, our land was cultivated only once a year with maize and sorghum, and sometimes we lost the harvest completely because of insufficient rainfall.”
The home gardens, water tanks, and drip irrigation systems provided helped introduce improved farming practices and enabled continuous crop production throughout the year. “I have been able to farm more sustainably than before. I now grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes throughout the year instead of relying on a single seasonal harvest,” says Maymouna.
Maymouna and her grandson pick tomatoes from the home garden.
She explains that home gardening has become an important part of rural families’daily lives. “These gardens provide families with the food they need, reduce household expenses and offer fresh, high-quality produce without relying on chemical fertilisers,” she says.
Through UNDP's support, home gardens were distributed to 896 households across the districts of Al-Mawaset and Al-Selw, bringing fresh produce, improved nutrition, and new livelihood opportunities closer to home. The initiative prioritised those most in need, including 433 women-headed households and 552 households with persons with disabilities, helping ensure that home gardens became a source of food security, income, and sustainable agricultural practices.
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