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Student’s Name:

Professor’s Name:

Course:

Date:

Interview about Khat Farming in Yemen

While living in Yemen, I saw the devastating impact of khat that almost all aspects of

Yemeni society are shifting to because of commercial cropping. As I am curious about the

reasons why it is so widespread and concerning, I have decided to do an I-Search study to find

out the roots, the consequences, and the solution to this problem. My research process will use

all the relevant sources, such as academic journals, news articles, government reports, and stories

directly from the people affected by the use of this. I did online databases and libraries as I was

searching for relevant information and resources. Rather than experts in public health only, I also

hope to learn from social sciences that is so insightful and gives a full picture in depth. The

research process will be a systematized step hence, the research will provide the information

about the issues.

The result of the research I conducted was that society, health, and the economy were

significantly affected. With the increased use of khat, one will have a lesser chance of quitting in

the future. Extensive khat use been associated with several health conditions which is

detrimental. These diseases are also linked to factors like poverty and hunger that are the main

threat. At the macro level, lower khat consumption can contribute to a nation that is richer and

better off in terms of national prosperity. According to Addel Aldaghbashy (2017), the food crisis

in Yemen is perhaps the most crucial reason that explains the sharp rise in the sale of khat. We

see that the overwhelming of khat in Yemen leads to not only personal health but also the social
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structure and the economic stability of the country breaking down (Ali et al. 12). Long-term khat

intake leads to sleep disturbances, the severity of which causes other health issues such as

addiction and mental health problems. Thus, the diversion of agri-resources from food crops to

khat cultivation causes food insecurity and poverty, primarily being a reason for the deepening of

socio-economic differences. This cycle of addiction and shortage continues to hamper

productivity, thereby stunting economic advancement and limiting Yemen's transformation to

prosperity. In addition, the widespread of khat use makes and maintains a social standard that

values immediate gratification over long-term wellness leading to the ongoing cycle of

dependency and underdevelopment. Addressing the khat problem entails multifaceted measures

that address both sides of the supply and demand, promoting health and well-being, economic

diversification, and social security (Bulos). It is only a more comprehensive approach that can

help Yemen limit the negative impact of khat usage and thus lead to a more cheerful and

prosperous tomorrow. The idea behind my research topic came from the fact that I had great

sympathy for my country and the people living in it. Watching people around me consume khat

and seeing its terrible consequences on individuals and society made me start digging more into

the reasons for its proliferation and the possible solutions for its mitigation.

Furthermore, I learned that the Yemeni society has acclimatized to the culture of khat

farming and chewing with ninety percent of the males and females consuming the leaves daily.

This widespread practice brought about deforestation, soil degradation, and crop displacement to

intensify food insecurity and environmental degradation (Gezon). Nonetheless, I came across a

few barriers in getting access to reliable data and dealing with the complexities of the online khat

trade network. The clandestine nature of the trade, which involves limited transparency and

regulatory frameworks, made it challenging for the efforts to obtain greater knowledge about the
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magnitude and impact of khat cultivation, distribution, and consumption. Furthermore, the

absence of a centralized reporting system and different terms describing khat-related data present

in different sources have been considered additional factors making the collection of data

complicated. Even though these challenges arose, my research emphasized the trend of

developing data collection and monitoring systems to be able to trace the range of khat trade and

its consequences on society and the environment. To go forward, the resolution of these

difficulties should be taken into account when developing policies and strategies based on facts

that are meant to minimize the negative outcomes of khat intake and ensure sustainable

development for the Yemeni population. The conclusion was fruitful as it shed light on the core

causes and effects of khat consumption in Yemen. As a Yemeni who was born and raised in my

country and as a person who has a deep feeling about my country and people’s wellness, I was

not able to be a silent citizen and had to dig and explore the causes behind khat use and its vast

implications toward public health, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Through my research, I found out that there are historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors

that contribute as well, I have become more informed about the trade-offs and complexity of

handling such wide-ranging problems which require combined measures to tackle both demand

and supply sides. The abundance of sources I have referred to offered unique perspectives that

helped me to look at the khat problem from multiple sides, thus, doing a critical analysis of the

issue. Whereas some resources were illuminating the social and cultural features of khat taking,

others were helpful in their economic and environmental impact information. It was also

scholarly journals, government reports, and expert interviews that were crucial in offering a

nuanced sense of the khat issue and empirical evidence to prove the case. These media sources

not only provided us with deep perspectives on the underpinning causes, impacts, and possible
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remedies to this problem but also helped us to understand the facets of the matter. The list of

sources that were used in the research on kaht farming in Yemen consisted of journals and online

magazines. This offered a unique perspective because they were updated, offered different

perspectives, and provided evidence-based arguments.

Apart from gaining firsthand experience of the gravity of the khat issue in Yemen, there

are some unanswered questions and other issues that are still to be looked into. Firstly, I will

focus on the efficacy of current interventions and policy measures that work towards reducing

khat use and the bad effects it has on society and the environment. It has already been identified

that khat is a social and economic issue that requires additional analysis. The proposed solutions

should keep in mind that Yemen is a third-world region and khat plays a major economic role. At

the very least, it would be prudent to replace this cash crop with another sustainable source of

income (Abdullah). In conclusion, the khat problem in Yemen has been both enlightening and

sobering during my I-Search adventure. The situation has revealed the necessity of a well-

rounded policy that encompasses the primary cause as well as the problems following the khat

consumption and the well-being of the society of Yemen. On my part, I shall strongly advocate

for programs, actions, and regulations that are anchored on scientific evidence and that will in

turn support public health, economic development, and environmental sustainability in Yemen.
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Works Cited

Abdullah, Khaled. "In Yemen, Farmers Choose Narcotic over Other Crops." Reuters, 10 Nov.

2022, www.reuters.com/business/cop/yemen-farmers-choose-narcotic-over-other-crops-

exacerbating-climate-woes-2022-11-10/. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.

Adel Aldaghbashy. "Khat Cultivation Fuels Food Crisis in Yemen." SciDev.Net, 3 Jan. 2017,

www.scidev.net/global/news/khat-cultivation-food-crisis-yemen.

Ali, Abdullah, et al. "Agriculture and Yemen's Economy." Carnegie Endowment for International

Peace, 16 May 2023, https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/89763

Bulos, Nabih. "Narcotic Leaf Qat Is Everywhere in Yemen, Despite Civil War - Los Angeles

Times. "Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2021,

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-01-16/qat-narcotic-leaf-big-business-

consumption-yemen

Gezon, Lisa L. "Drug Crops and Food Security: The Effects of Khat on Lives." West GA, 26

Dec. 2012, www.westga.edu/share/documents/pubs/000308_1269.pdf. Accessed 15 Apr.

2024.