Urbanization threatens traditional camel breeding profession in Aden

Camel breeding has been one of the most significant traditional professions for decades and a cultural heritage that characterizes the desert and countryside of Yemen.

However, nowadays this profession is facing the threat of extinction as a result of the eight-year civil war and urbanization.

The scarce studies have varied on the percentage of urban sprawl on agricultural land and have been estimated at an annual average of 3.7%, meaning that over the next three decades, the entire agricultural area will disappear.

Studies indicate that with the increase in population density and the absence of urban planning in most Yemeni cities, people are turning to build facilities in the non-mountainous plains because they are suitable for agriculture and close to public services.

The continuous migration from the countryside to cities, the decline in the ratio of workers in the agricultural sector, and the absence of awareness, the educational role and regulatory and security oversight are all factors that contributed to the decline of camel herding and agriculture, according to urban planners.

As agricultural production declines, the country will lose many cash crops and will depend on imports to fill the food gap, threatening food security and self-sufficiency. Urban sprawl also adversely affects livestock and poultry, especially those of local breeds, beekeeping, all agricultural activities, manufacturing industries, and workers in the agricultural and animal sector.