Honey exports yield $9 million [Archives:2006/912/Business & Economy]
Yemen's Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation affirms that the total annual honey production is more than 706 tons, 17 percent of which is exported abroad, bringing $9 million in revenues. The ministry points out that the number of Yemeni beehives exceeds one million.
In a recent statistic, the ministry added that honey is considered among five important and strategic products and it will support it through a bee breeding development project started in 1993 through German support. Since its establishment, the project has conducted 253 short- and long-range training courses, benefiting 4,037 beekeepers from various areas in Yemen. The project is currently planning a strategy to develop this activity.
Yemen's honey is reputed throughout the world for its high quality and is among the world's most famous due to Yemen's diverse terrain of high mountains, vast valleys, spacious plateaus and lengthy coast. This gives Yemen a unique climate enriching the quality of its year-round botanic yield. Yemen's kaleidoscopic nature produces rich blossom varieties and various types of honey. Yemeni honey is distinguished by the fact that the bee itself builds its hive without human interference, thereby preserving its natural specifications. All this gives Yemeni honey high therapeutic and food value, as well as a delicious taste flavor and beautiful dark color.
Regarding another agricultural product, local sources in Hudeida governorate, 300km west of Sana'a, disclosed that more than 120 farmers, affiliated with 25 agricultural societies in the governorates, expanded cotton growth during the 2004-2005 season, due to presidential directives to realize possible larger production figures. However, results were quite to the contrary. Farmers faced heavy losses, leading some to declare total bankruptcy due to insecticides supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and the state establishment for weaving and textiles. The insecticides burned spacious cotton farms, decreasing this year's cotton production by 20 percent of the targeted amount. Farmers asked that an investigation be conducted and those who caused this result held accountable. They also asked for compensation for the season's insecticide burning disaster.
Farmers also accused the ministry of not supporting them or taking an interest in solving problems they face in growing cotton, particularly fighting cotton diseases. Organizers and sponsors of a workshop recently held on fighting cotton insects and diseases have switched to listening to cotton farmers' complaints. Farmers revealed they do not get needed support and there are no laboratories to examine soil and water. They said the ministry usually is late in its campaign to fight cotton insects, beginning spraying insecticides after it is too late and exposing crops to damage.
Farmers also said crop losses were inflicted by scarcity of irrigation water, as the ministry does not supply them with diesel fuel; the spread of cotton insects due to lack of agricultural guidance; not examining and determining good cotton growing soil and seeds not supplied in due time, leading to varying growing dates and causing insects to move from one farm to another.
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