Enterprising Woman Farmer Sees the Light, Invests in Climate-smart Green Energy
“I am able to irrigate all year long. It is a wonderful feeling to be independent and in control of my life.” — Eman Ali Ahmad, solar-empowered banana farmer
When Eman Ali Ahmad inherited 15 acres of land in Halaba from her father, unlike most women in her community, she refused to sell it. Instead she immediately reclaimed five of the acres from farmers temporarily using the land and invested in a new farming venture.
Thanks to USAID’s Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Program (USAID/ERLP) green energy initiative and its partnership with Al-Tadhamon Microfinance Bank, Ms. Ahmad was able to access enough money through a loan in 2022 to install a water-saving, solar-powered irrigation system. She also received training in climate-smart water management, eliminating overwatering, using the system efficiently, and selecting water-efficient and profitable crops.
“We used to use a diesel water pump to irrigate, but it was inefficient, frequently malfunctioned, and time-consuming… sometimes taking weeks to find someone to repair it, and fuel was expensive and scarce,” said Ms. Ahmad. “This hurt crops and revenues. Based on surrounding farmers’ experience, I found the most profitable way forward was to grow bananas and invest in the new solar irrigation system. The application process was smooth and easy.”
Now, with the help of a farming supervisor who oversees 35 workers, the 55-year-old is growing a more profitable crop—bananas—instead of watermelons and almonds. For the first time she is breaking even financially. As the only breadwinner, she supports her family—her mother, five married sisters, and their children, who are all struggling financially. These entrepreneurial successes and USAID support have encouraged her to reclaim the remaining ten acres and cultivate new crops. She has become a role model for other women in her community.
Ms. Ahmad is quick to point out the environmental and entrepreneurial benefits of solar power. “I am still relatively new to the business. Being a woman was the first challenge,” she said. “But the solar system conserves water and is much cheaper to operate than the diesel-run pump. It is a wonderful feeling to be independent and in control of my life.”
Since the launching of USAID/ERLP’s green energy finance initiative in December 2022 and a partnership with Tadhamon Bank, entrepreneurs have installed 65 solar system units valued at approximately $135,000 during the pilot phase. A professional solar engineer installs the systems and conducts extensive information and training.
“We established the Abyan branch despite high risks and safety concerns,” said Lahj branch manager, Ms. Entsar Sarti. “But Abyan is a prime agricultural area and we were invested in supporting farmers who were on the verge of drought due to water scarcity and old, costly, and inefficient irrigation. It has also increased options with some going back to growing sesame, cotton, coffee, and other crops Yemen was once renowned for.”
The future is bright for solar-powered agriculture in Yemen. USAID continues to coach vegetable farmers on how to use clean solar power integrated with drip irrigation and plastic mulching. This approach can help maintain high yields and reduce the amount of water needed to grow crops by at least 70 percent. Solar energy also lowers pollution by eliminating the use of diesel fuel.
Yemen’s agricultural sector is vital to the livelihoods and food security of those most in need. Access to finance is essential to bolster Yemen’s farmers and the country’s agri-sector. USAID/ERLP’s green energy partnership with Tadhamon Bank is helping small entrepreneurial farmers like Ms. Ahmad secure financial services that increase productivity and profit, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and help address the negative effects of climate-related water shortages.
“Eman is now a role model and inspiration to all the women in her region,” said Ms. Sarti. “She is living proof that a woman can be productive, be the head of a household, and not be dependent on a man even in a conservative community.”
