Page 50 - AA 2026

Yemen

Harvesting of 2026 winter wheat and planting

of sorghum crops nearing completion

Agricultural activities for the 2026 sight stabilized the Yemeni rial at an
season are progressing under gener- average of YER 1 553/USD 1 in April
ally favourable weather conditions, 2026, representing a 55 percent year
although weather conditions have on year appreciation. This exchange
been mixed with intensified rainfall rate stability kept staple food prices
that triggered flash floods across unchanged month on month and 22 to
southwestern parts of the country, 30 percent lower than in April 2025.
with considerable impacts on com- In Hadramout Governorate, wheat
munities and farmlands. Harvesting flour prices reached a record high
of the 2026 winter wheat finalized in of about YER 1 300/kg in July 2025
April in the eastern Plateau and is still before declining sharply in August,
underway in the northern and cen- mainly reflecting the appreciation of
tral highlands, where above average the Aden based Yemeni rial, which
rainfall amounts in March supported strengthened from an average of YER
crop development and vegetation 2 800/USD 1 in July to about YER 1
conditions, pointing to near-average at a near average level of 5.2 million 660/USD 1 in early August following
production prospects. Planting of the tonnes. The country remains highly exchange rate stabilization measures
2026 main rainfed sorghum crop has dependent on imports to meet its in the government controlled areas.
been completed in most highland domestic consumption needs, as lim- However, deteriorating economic
areas, including the northern, cen- ited local production and protracted conditions continue to drive acute
tral highlands and southern uplands, conflict continue to constrain local food insecurity across the country. In
while sowing activities are still ongo- supply. According to the latest Ye- the GoY, staple food prices increased
ing in some coastal areas. Although men Food Security Update , food im- month on month in March 2026 due to
favourable seasonal rainfall between ports through the Red Sea remained higher insurance and transport costs
March and April 2026 generally sup- at adequate levels as of March 2026, linked to the conflict in the Middle
ported crop establishment and early with cumulative import volumes dur- East, fuel price increases and foreign
development, below average pre- ing the first quarter of 2026 at about currency shortages. In Sana’a Based
cipitation amounts are forecast in 28 percent above the same period in Authorities controlled areas, addi-
parts of the southern uplands and 2025. This increase was largely sup- tional taxation in early 2026 further
northern areas, which may constrain ported by commercial wheat imports, raised prices of staple foods, reduc-
crop development in the affected ar- the main staple commodity used for ing households’ purchasing power.
eas. Furthermore, farmers continue bread production. However, the re- Ongoing localized conflicts, supply
to face constraints in accessing agri- cent escalation of regional conflicts disruptions and currency deprecia-
cultural inputs, particularly fertilizers has increased shipping and cereal tion continue to constrain food access
and fuel, due to high prices, amid the costs, amid foreign exchange short- and disrupt markets and livelihoods.
conflict in the Middle East that started ages. In March 2026, no fuel was According to the 2026 Humanitar-
in late February 2026. imported through the Red Sea ports ian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP)
and fuel imports through the South-
Below-average cereal production ern route fell by about 60 percent , about 18.3 million people nation-
estimated in 2025 below average. Fuel prices rose 11 wide were projected to face high
Cereal production in 2025 is esti- to 16 percent in April, followed by a levels of acute food insecurity (IPC
mated at a below average level of further 24 percent hike, raising do- Phase 3 [Crisis] or above) between
about 400 000 tonnes, due to pro- mestic transport and input costs, and September 2025 and February 2026,
longed dry weather conditions and constraining food access. including 5.5 million people in IPC
high temperatures, which limited Acute food insecurity persists in Phase 4 (Emergency).The latest IPC
planted areas and reduced yields in 2026 despite stabilized food prices analysis indicates that, in the GoY,
rainfed areas. In addition, ongoing and macroeconomic situation nearly 5 million people faced acute
localized conflicts, high input costs food insecurity between March and
and supply chain disruptions further Retail prices of wheat flour in- May 2026, including 1.4 million in IPC
undermined agricultural production. creased sharply in most markets of Phase 4 (Emergency). Between June
the Government of Yemen (GoY)
and September 2026, the number of
Cereal import requirements fore- controlled areas between late 2024 acutely food insecure people is pro-
cast at near-average level in 2026 and July 2025, underpinned by the jected to increase to 5.4 million (51
Cereal import requirements in the sustained depreciation of the Yemeni percent of the analysed population),
2026 marketing year (January/De- rial and high import and transport including 1.6 million people in IPC
cember) are preliminarily forecast costs. Tighter Central Bank over- Phase 4 (Emergency).
48 Arab Agriculture 2026