The ongoing conflict and rising fuel prices have devastated the agricultural market in Yemen, pushing families into deeper economic distress. Left unchecked by weakened public authorities, unregulated water pumping and toxic pesticides have driven a catastrophic expansion of qat cultivation. This has increased Yemeni communities’ reliance on qat as a high-return and relatively resilient cash crop. Before the war, qat cultivation expanded by approximately 5 percent per year, from 76,100 tonnes in 1991 to 165,700 tonnes in 2008. With the war, qat cultivation has expanded by over 40 percent in some regions between 2016 and 2021. Qat grows reliably, generates income, requires no export infrastructure, and has strong local demand. It can also endure longer dry periods, making it a resilient choice for farmers facing uncertain weather patterns. Its cultivation became profitable for many farmers, despite the high cost of pumping groundwater. However, the widespread adoption of solar irrigation pumps has transformed this dynamic, particularly for wealthier qat farmers with the financial capacity to invest in solar technology. This further accelerated the expansion of qat cultivation and intensified pressure on Yemen’s already-depleted groundwater.

For years, international assessments have highlighted qat expansion as a central driver of groundwater depletion in Yemen. Qat is a water-intensive cash crop. Agriculture consumes around 90 percent of total water withdrawals in Yemen, with qat alone accounting for over 40 percent of renewable water resources and about 30 percent of groundwater use. In some highland basins, qat consumes 80 percent of the extracted groundwater. The expansion of qat cultivation is closely linked to groundwater depletion, often exceeding natural recharge rates. Due to its expanding cultivated area, qat consumes more water than any other crop in Yemen. This has led to aquifers being depleted to sustain a single non-food cash crop, significantly worsening long-term water and food insecurity in the country.

Water depletion is not the only growing concern associated with qat cultivation. In recent months, the uncontrolled use of pesticides in Yemen has become a source of growing public concern and debate, especially due to reports of rising pesticide and toxic chemical use in qat cultivation. Farmers apply chemicals for pest control, to accelerate growth, and to alter the color of qat leaves to enhance their market value. Activists on social media platforms have recently claimed that many pesticides in use are of unknown origin and are classified elsewhere in the world as carcinogenic. A local farmer in Sana’a warned on social media about the use of a specific smuggled, internationally banned pesticide on qat, which he claimed significantly enhances yield but poses serious carcinogenic health risks. Images have also circulated on social media showing brightly colored irrigation water full of chemical pesticides, and describing it as a “slow poison” affecting consumers and claiming its use is linked to rising cancer rates. These concerns extend beyond qat cultivation, as pesticides are widely used on fruits and vegetables. In a country already experiencing food insecurity and limited domestic food production, there is growing concern about consumer health and food safety.

The handling of highly toxic chemicals often occurs directly and without protective measures, leading to severe health risks for farmers, qat users, and other community members. Many Yemenis have reported experiencing digestive issues, respiratory problems, and general physical weakness. The immediate consumption of qat after spraying further exacerbates the direct exposure to these harmful substances, highlighting a growing but under-recognized public health burden associated with its consumption.

That qat contributes to environmental degradation and public health risks is a long-standing concern. But qat also remains a hugely important source of income, especially amid economic uncertainty and conflict. Cultivation of qat will endure as long as it offers higher and more reliable returns than other crops. Its cultivation will likely continue to expand, particularly amid ongoing political and economic instability. ِAddressing the qat crisis requires a fundamental shift in policies and incentives. This begins by investing in comprehensive water management that prioritizes domestic and sustainable agricultural uses, particularly regarding groundwater extraction. Simultaneously, the government must limit qat expansion and pursue agricultural diversification, shifting toward higher-income, food-secure crops through long-term investment in research and market access. More pressingly, given the risks to the population’s well-being, public health campaigns must be undertaken to educate Yemenis about the risks of pesticide exposure. These efforts must be accompanied by regional and international cooperation and accountability to address the cross-border smuggling of illegal pesticides and secure international funding for sustainable development initiatives.