Yemen, Due To Its Aridness, Relies On Groundwater For Its Water Supply

A Yemeni villager stands next to a well drilling rig on the outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen, Jan. 1, 2013. Yemen is one of the most arid countries on the earth and relies almost exclusively on groundwater for its water supply. The amount of water used in agriculture in Yemen is currently about 91 percent with 40 percent for Qat shrub irrigation, mildly narcotic leaves that are commonly chewed by most of Yemenis.

A Yemeni farmer stands in his Qat farm while he irrigates it on the outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen, Jan. 1, 2013.

A Yemeni farmer sells Qat leaves on the outskirts of Sanaa, Yemen, Jan. 1, 2013.Y <Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed>