Yemen's Qat Drains Scarce Water

More than 40% of Yemen's renewable water is used to grow qat, a drought-resistant shrub containing mild amphetamine-like stimulants. Its leaves are widely chewed across the country, while its two-week harvest cycle makes qat one of the few reliably profitable crops for many farmers. Yet irrigation greatly increases its yield, causing scarce water to be diverted from food crops in one of the world's most water-scarce countries. As drought worsens, qat survives while other crops fail, encouraging further cultivation and deepening Yemen's water and hunger crises.

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