Early scholarly research on Qat production in Yemen: Implications for Sustainability

Researchers Mohammed Al-Sabbry and Lenard Milich of the University of Arizona published this paper in the journal Development, in 1995. This seminal paper discusses the rationale behind qat production vs. other forms of agriculture. It equally sheds light on how these decisions are affecting the water table and therefore the very future of Yemeni agriculture itself.

Introduction

Writing about the cultivation of qat (Catha edulis) in Yemen is akin to recounting an ancient legend or describing a national history. Because the plant produces alkaloid stimulants, perhaps three quarters of Yemeni adults chew qat leaves each afternoon, for a period lasting at least five hours. People spend about one-quarter to one-third of their cash income on qat (Weir, 1985). And because qat has come to mean everything in Yemeni life, some among the poorer segments of society will willingly forego food in favor of buying qat......


see full paper here http://ag.arizona.edu/~lmilich/yemen.html#qsa