Hadhramout / University Media / Special Report
Hadhramout University is currently participating in the establishment of the first specialized Water Productivity Observatory in Wadi Hajar, in cooperation with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (Netherlands) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as part of efforts to promote the sustainable management of water and agricultural resources in the region.
The project, entitled “WaPOR-Hajr,” will run for 14 months, from November 2026 until December 2027, and is being implemented by the Center for Environmental Studies and Water Resources at Hadhramout University in partnership with local institutions concerned with water and agriculture, as well as water user associations in the valley.
Wadi Hajar is located approximately 70 kilometers west of Al‑Mukalla and covers a basin area of 9,160 square kilometers. It contains a perennial water flow system and serves more than 90,000 inhabitants. The valley is home to an estimated two to three million date palms, in addition to crops such as sorghum, millet, and wheat.
The traditional irrigation system in the valley suffered severe damage following the tropical storm that affected the region in June 2020, resulting in the loss of thousands of palm trees, a decline in date production of more than 65%, and increased reliance on diesel-powered groundwater pumping. At the same time, the spread of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) intensified pressures on water resource management.
The project relies on WaPOR platform data, remote sensing technologies, and field observations to establish a baseline for water productivity and develop a reference water accounting framework for the valley covering the period 2018–2027. This includes the use of Sentinel‑2 satellite imagery and analyses of evapotranspiration, biomass production, and the productivity of major crops through field surveys conducted on approximately 40 farms.
The project also includes research and educational components, such as the development of an open-access geospatial database, the preparation of policy briefs in Arabic and English, and the production of a scientific study for publication. In addition, a bilingual training program will be delivered to 25 specialists and students, and a new academic module entitled “WaPOR for Agriculture in Wadi Systems” will be developed for possible inclusion in the curricula of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Technologies within the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology. The project will also support three undergraduate graduation projects.
The observatory will be established and operated within the Center for Environmental Studies and Water Resources at Hadhramout University, alongside the development of an open data-processing system. This will enable the university to issue an independent Date Palm Season Monitoring Bulletin for 2027, subject to scientific review by the international project partner.
Furthermore, the project will integrate the university into the WaterPIP KAN Network as a regional node for Yemen and the Middle East, while strengthening cooperation with regional and international institutions in the fields of water productivity, remote sensing, and digital agriculture. The project is expected to support farmers and relevant stakeholders through the provision of scientific information that enhances water-use efficiency, strengthens food security, and contributes to the protection of natural resources in Wadi Hajar and Hadhramout.
