Urban Agriculture in Sana’a (Yemen)

Sana’a, the capital of the Republic of Yemen, is situated on a plateau 2,200 m above sea level. At present, the population of the city is estimated to be 1,7 million (2004 census) and is projected to increase to over 3.4 million by the year 2010. Agriculture forms an important part of the economy (accounting for 17% of GDP in 2001), despite the lack of arable land (3%), scarcity of water, periodic droughts, and difficult terrain. Employment in the agricultural sector accounts for more than 64% of the workforce.