Yemen gov't in drug fight

DRUG FIGHT: The government of Yemen plans to curb cultivation of the drug known as ‘Qat’ (pictured), a mild narcotic leaf. (Getty Images)

The government of Yemen plans to curb cultivation of the drug known as ‘Qat’ , which is depleting up to 30% of the water available for crop cultivation and threatening food security in the country.

Yemeni authorities are seeking to reduce Qat cultivation which is widespread across five governorates, state news agency Saba reported on Sunday. Qat is a highly popular mild narcotic leaf that is legal in Yemen.

The water shortage is emerging as the biggest economic threat to the country of 19 million people.

Qat use is widespread in Yemen with more than half of the male population regularly chewing the drug according to the World Bank, while as many as one in seven economically active people in the country are involved either in the production or distribution of the drug.

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