Protecting the land [Archives:2003/01/Last Page]

Written by Abdulrahman Mutahhar
Translated by Janet Watson
M – The Yemeni philosopher said,
‘My land is protected by walls and dykes of clay;
when the rains come at night,
I can sleep easily.’
Ma – Yes,
‘My land is protected by walls and dykes of clay;
when the rains come at night,
I can sleep easily.’
But if the Yemeni philosopher could see how the rains come at night when we’ve got no clay dykes to protect the land, and how they sweep away what’s left of the topsoil, he’d turn in his grave!
M – God be praised, for all bounty comes from Him! People who know that the rains are going to come and prepare for them by strengthening their terrace walls and dykes before it rains can sleep easily.
‘My land is protected by walls and dykes of clay;
when the rains come at night,
I can sleep easily.’
You can see what the proverb means, can’t you Mus’ida, when the reality of the situation is right in front of you!
Ma – Of course! ‘Not all green is the same, nor are all gradients equal.’ The true Himyaritic farmer used to examine the length of his irrigation networks and fortify all the walls and dykes during the dry season. Then, when the rains did come at night, he would get up and go out to make sure that they were holding properly.
M – You’ve said it! ‘Not all green is the same, nor are all gradients equal.’ Most of the farmers around us today and in other villages neglected their irrigation networks and their dykes during the dry season. They did themselves out of the benefit of the night rains which simply swept away what was left of the good topsoil. And all the time the farmers were taking shelter, making sure their hands and feet didn’t get cold!
Ma – If you think about it, Mus’id, a handful of good topsoil which is swept away by the rains at night or in the full light of day is more valuable than three sacks of good wheat.
M – You’re quite right! But what can we do, and who properly understands what it’s really worth? Some farmers don’t really bother about agriculture any more; they’re quite content with a few qat trees, and rely on getting their grain, flour, vegetables and fruit from the market, which is very short-sighted. Others have simply abandoned their land and irrigation networks and dykes to vermin and the rains, and either go and get themselves jobs, or open up a shop so that they can sell stuff tins and packets. And this is the cause of poverty and the hand-out culture you hear of!

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