Environmental policy and administrative management

Bani Battal and neighbouring villages located on western escarpemnt of Yemen (N14 55.021 E43 29.434). The area is well know for its steep mounttains terrraces for agriculture and water conservation. Rain-fed agriculture is tghe main occupation of the communities in the area. Water availability for domestic and supplementary irrigation is the main challenge for women fetching water for household use and for farmers to provide supplementary irrigation of limited crops (Coffee and Qat). Rain occures in Summer months when the surplus is drained to lower coastal areas reaching the sea. Water harvesting and storing techniques is in practice for generations. Local community dig deep water harvesting cisters in the ground, build them with rocks and blustering them with cements to uphold water for year round use. The objectives of this prooject is to enable communities in Bani Battal group of villages to finish Twenty One water harvesting cisterns and to establish revolving fuunds to recycle financial resources to finish at least 11 more cistern during project life span. The revolving fund mechanism will continue to allow building water harvesting cisttern in the fuuture till the community satisfied from water. The expected total water harved in this project is 7424 cubic meterper year. The projectt will carry two mtrainin g workshop on aspects of organic farming and water use effeciency.

Yemen