Environmental policy and administrative management

Al-Maroofia area is located on the Hodiedah-Maidi main road ca. 10 km from Al-Dhai city. The region is located in the downstream of Wadi Surdude before reaching the Sea. The main economic and livelihoods activities for communities are agriculture and pastoralism. Since the new irrigation projects in upper stream of the Wadi, it seldom that rain flood reach the area, Hence local communities are solely depend on tube well as a source of irrigation. Due to this water table is facing enormous pressure and declining as a result. The average water table depth is 120m. Crops grown in the region are Sesame, tobacco, cereals, vegetables legumes and sorghum fodder. Most cash crops are sold either at farm gate or in Hodiedah where cereals are retain for home uses. The project benefits 320 agriculture families with 1810 inhabitants. The project aimed at enabling local farmers to adopt 35 surface irrigation systems covering 6 Hectare in each farm to reduce water losses, labours, soil salinity and the amount of Diesel used for pumping required irrigation water. This will lead to soil and water conservation; reduce CO2 emission due to Diesel saving of 30% and enhance farm economy. The annual saving in resources due to projects are: 1. Annual saving in fuel cost = US$ 75,495 2. Avoidance of CO2 emission= 435 tons/year 3. Improve farm economy = US$ 75,495 /year/farm (35) and US$ 186/family/year (399) Project will assist in building capacity of local communities towards better natural resources management and environment. Lesson learnt that would be generated by the project will be made available for replication and experience sharing with all similar landscapes. The project is funded by local farmers (51%), the National Irrigation project (16%)and the GEF small Grant Programme(33% ). The total project investment is US$ 151,051. The investment cost will be recoverable within a period of 2 Years.

Yemen