Yemen's prolonged conflict has created an unexpected economic transformation: a revival of the agricultural sector as workers displaced from collapsed industries return to farming. The shift, driven by necessity rather than development, reveals both civilian resilience and the depth of economic devastation gripping the country.
A new report examining Yemen's economic adaptation shows that agricultural employment has increased significantly as international sanctions and internal conflict have shuttered traditional economic sectors. Workers who once found employment in urban centers, oil facilities, and service industries have increasingly returned to subsistence farming as other opportunities vanish.
In Yemen, as across prolonged conflicts, the humanitarian toll grows even as international attention fades. The agricultural revival represents not progress but adaptation to crisis—a return to farming driven by the collapse of more lucrative sectors rather than agricultural investment or development.
The economic shift comes as Yemen faces what the United Nations continues to describe as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Over 20 million Yemenis face food insecurity, with the economy in freefall and healthcare systems barely functioning. The return to agriculture provides some families with subsistence but cannot replace the income lost from destroyed industries.
International sanctions targeting the Houthi movement, which controls much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have contributed to economic isolation. Combined with the ongoing conflict's destruction of infrastructure, these factors have eliminated employment in sectors that previously provided livelihoods for millions.
The agricultural sector's growth also reflects the conflict's demographic impact. With urban centers experiencing repeated bombardment and economic collapse, many Yemenis have relocated to rural areas where subsistence farming offers at least minimal food security. This internal displacement has shifted population patterns across the country.
From Muscat, where Oman's unique position as a neutral mediator provides crucial perspective, the agricultural shift appears as another marker of Yemen's economic regression. Oman has maintained relationships with all parties in the conflict, making it one of the few venues where adversaries can engage in dialogue about reconstruction and economic recovery.
The transformation also highlights the conflict's transformation from civil war to regional proxy battle. What began as internal political upheaval evolved into a complex confrontation involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other regional powers, with economic warfare complementing military operations. The sanctions regime, intended to pressure Houthi leadership, has instead devastated the broader economy.
Agricultural production faces its own challenges despite the workforce expansion. Water scarcity, always severe in Yemen, has worsened with conflict-damaged infrastructure and climate pressures. Many farmers lack access to seeds, fertilizers, or functioning irrigation systems, limiting productivity even as more workers return to fields.
The economic adaptation also raises questions about long-term recovery. When eventual peace arrives, reconstructing Yemen's diversified economy will prove difficult if an entire generation has shifted to subsistence agriculture. The loss of skills, education, and economic infrastructure may take decades to rebuild.
Humanitarian organizations working in Yemen emphasize that agricultural growth, while providing some immediate relief, cannot address the scale of needs. Food insecurity stems not just from production but from purchasing power, with Yemen's collapsed currency and hyperinflation putting even available food beyond many families' reach.
The shift to agriculture also occurs against the backdrop of stalled peace efforts. While Oman continues facilitating dialogue, previous ceasefires have proven fragile, and the fundamental issues driving the conflict remain unresolved. Economic reconstruction requires not just peace agreements but sustained stability—a distant prospect as military operations continue in multiple provinces.
For Yemen's civilian population, the agricultural revival represents daily survival rather than economic recovery. In one of the world's poorest countries even before the conflict, the return to subsistence farming marks a desperate adaptation to circumstances where other options have been destroyed by years of war and economic isolation.
