Articles
CACTUS PRODUCTION IN YEMEN FROM NEGLECTED TO A CASH CROP
Article number
811_57
Pages
415 – 420
Language
English
Abstract
Yemen is located in the south west Arabian peninsula and is one of the oldest agricultural civilizations as evidenced by archaeological excavations, remnants of irrigation structures and terraces. (Varisco, 1987)
Yemen is situated in the northern stretches of tropical climate zone.
The temperature varies greatly to extreme differences in the elevation.
The annual temperatures range from less than 15°C in the highlands region to 40°C in the coastal plains and to 45°C in the eastern plateau (Desert and semi desert areas).
The rainfall is highly erratic in time, quantity and location.
It occurs in two periods, the first from early March through May, the second from July until September, but there are exceptions in certain regions and years.
Rainfall varies from less than 50 mm in the coastal region and desert plateau, to more than, 1200 mm in the western mountainous highlands (Al-Khurasan, 2005).
The country can be divided into three climates:
The total land area of Yemen has been estimated at 55.5 million hectares with only 3.5 million ha considered as arable land.
Water scarcity imposes a yearly limit on the cultivated area of 1.4 million ha of which 42-45% is under irrigation (vegetables and fruits). The remaining rain-fed areas consist mainly of cereals and legumes.
The contribution of agriculture to the gross national product (GNP) is about 17%.
The population of Yemen is about 20 million inhabitants (as per 2003 survey).
Yemen is situated in the northern stretches of tropical climate zone.
The temperature varies greatly to extreme differences in the elevation.
The annual temperatures range from less than 15°C in the highlands region to 40°C in the coastal plains and to 45°C in the eastern plateau (Desert and semi desert areas).
The rainfall is highly erratic in time, quantity and location.
It occurs in two periods, the first from early March through May, the second from July until September, but there are exceptions in certain regions and years.
Rainfall varies from less than 50 mm in the coastal region and desert plateau, to more than, 1200 mm in the western mountainous highlands (Al-Khurasan, 2005).
The country can be divided into three climates:
- Arid tropical in the coastal and desert and semi desert areas
- Arid subtropical in the coastal and desert and semi desert areas
- Temperate climate in the mountains ranging in altitude from 1800-3900 m asl.
The total land area of Yemen has been estimated at 55.5 million hectares with only 3.5 million ha considered as arable land.
Water scarcity imposes a yearly limit on the cultivated area of 1.4 million ha of which 42-45% is under irrigation (vegetables and fruits). The remaining rain-fed areas consist mainly of cereals and legumes.
The contribution of agriculture to the gross national product (GNP) is about 17%.
The population of Yemen is about 20 million inhabitants (as per 2003 survey).
Authors
M. Al-Nusairi, I. Muharram, P. Felker
Keywords
Opuntia ficus-indica L., platyopuntiae, climate
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