Smart Agriculture and the Feasibility of its Implementation in the Abyan Delta

Abstract

​This paper aimed to assess the feasibility of smart agriculture in the Abyan Delta as a practical pathway to water sustainability and food security, by framing interventions within Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) that balances productivity, climate resilience, and emission mitigation. The study relied on a descriptive-analytical approach using quantitative and qualitative evidence from FAO and World Bank reports, complemented by local field insights on water resources, flood-based irrigation infrastructure, and the impacts of conflict and climate variability on production systems.
​The analysis found that the Abyan Delta combines high agro-ecological potential with institutional and water-management fragility. When embedded in enforceable governance, integrating smart drip irrigation (IoT + Drip), flood early-warning systems (FEWS), and drone-enabled precision farming can deliver ~45% water savings and ~25% yield gains, while reducing input waste and improving farm decisions via SMS/WhatsApp digital extension. Solar pumping is a double-edged sword: it contributes to over-abstraction unless licensing is tied to water-saving controls.