Publication: Yemen : Towards Qat Demand Reduction
Date
2007-06
ISSN
Published
2007-06
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
This report, based on a household survey
conducted in 2006, discusses options for discouraging qat
consumption in Yemen. It draws on a survey-the first
representative data collection exercise aimed specifically
at assessing the qat consumption phenomena-which confirms
that the use of this drug is widespread. Qat is consumed by
men, women and children; its use is extremely time
consuming; it drains the family budget; has adverse health
effects; negatively affects work performance and thus
contributes to poverty. Weaning consumers from the qat habit
will be difficult, because its production accounts for some
6 percent of GDP and 14 percent of total employment. Qat
consumption requires around 10 percent of the household
budget of all income groups, which comes at the expense of
basic food, education and health. To reduce qat consumption,
this note recommends a set of economic and non-economic
policy measures. These include: increasing the tax burden;
building public awareness; incorporating training on the
hazards of qat in the school system; enforcing public
policies aimed at discouraging qat consumption (e.g.,
extension of working hours); closing knowledge gaps and
developing viable crop diversification programs.
Citation
“World Bank. 2007. Yemen : Towards Qat Demand Reduction. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/7734 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”