In search of flowering sidr trees, Mohammed Ba Jaseer (32 years old) moves with more than 1,100 beehives throughout the year between the Daw’an district (west of Hadhramaut governorate, approximately 190 kilometers from the capital, Al-Mukalla), and other neighboring districts. Ba Jaseer is one of thousands of beekeepers in Hadhramaut, along the coast and valley regions, who inherited this profession from their fathers and ancestors. This occupation has become their source of livelihood, prompting them to constantly seek optimal weather conditions, allowing their bees to produce reasonable and high-quality quantities of honey. However, recent echoes of unprecedented climate fluctuations and changes have led to a shrinking availability of pastures and limited beekeepers' mobility. These climatic fluctuations pose a critical challenge for the honey producers in Yemen on a comprehensive scale. Therefore, they can only be effectively addressed through the implementation of qualitative and earnest strategies and solutions, necessitating substantial commitment and action from diverse government entities, each in accordance with its own capacities.
In this context, Engineer Khaled Al-Tamimi, a consultant and researcher specializing in beekeeping and honey and the president of the Beekeepers Association in Wadi Hadramout, speaks to "Khuyut" by saying: "The most prominent climatic impacts that are experienced by the honeybee colonies in Wadi Hadramout this year are the absence of rainfall, specifically during the spring season. Consequently, this phenomenon has led to the onset of the summer season amidst extremely high temperatures, significantly contributing to the deterioration of thousands of bee colonies and hives.”
Al-Tamimi pointed out that more than 50% of bee colonies perished due to the same cause. This negatively impacted the process of bee swarming (strengthening their hives) and overall honey production. Moreover, it affected the readiness for the upcoming season of new honey production, which typically begins when the weather is spring-like and moderate. This allows bee swarms to move between flowers for pollination and nectar collection, occurring from the beginning of October to the end of November each year.
Honey Production
The practice of honey production in Yemen has had a deep historical root embedded in its culture for thousands of years, simultaneously serving as both a profitable business and trade and even a source of income for the Yemeni people. According to a United Nations report in 2020, approximately one hundred thousand Yemeni families are engaged in beekeeping, relying on it as their sole source of income. Another report issued by the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies in 2023, an independent non-governmental research center, indicates that the beekeeping profession is widespread across most Yemeni governorates, with Hadramout ranking first, followed by Shabwa, Abyan, and Hodeidah."
Therefore, many beekeepers in Wadi Hadramout possess an exceptionally precise understanding of the flowering schedules of meadows across different regions and environments. Consequently, one finds them diligently relocating bee colonies from one area to another and from one valley to another, in pursuit of optimal food sources. This practice is likely a key factor that has distinguished Yemeni honey with global prestige and high value. Among its finest varieties is Sidr honey, notably renowned for its production in Wadi Daw'an in Hadramout.
The high quality and value of Yemeni honey have positioned it as a significant economic asset for the country. Indeed, it was classified, by the decision of Yemeni Cabinet No. 77 of 2003, as one of five strategic cash crops for the Yemeni Republic. This designation compels Yemeni citizens to persistently seek its cultivation and continually enhance its production. However, the Yemeni Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation published data in 2019 explicitly confirming a decline in the country's honey production by approximately 2,400 tons compared to the pre-war period, that is, before the year 2015.
For his part, Ali Ba Zaheer (37 years old), a honey beekeeper from the Wadi Al-Ain district in central Hadhramaut governorate, adjacent to Daw'an—which is also one of the districts that has been severely affected by climate changes in this sector during the recent period—expressed to "Khuyut": "The diversity, the quality of the vegetation cover, and the topography of the mountain range surrounding us in Wadi Al-Ain have historically constituted a significant hub for bee pastures and honey production. However, unfortunately, this is no longer the case today. The honey production in this directorate has significantly declined." Bazhair added, "I still remember that day in October 2022 with great sorrow when I lost about 670 beehives out of a total of 1,350 in just one day. Since then, my situation has worsened significantly, and this field is no longer as profitable for me as it used to be. I fully realized that I need to earnestly explore another profession to support myself and my family."
“The climatic changes have been impacting the honey beekeeping sector in Wadi Hadhramout for over four years, primarily due to the significant rise in temperatures, especially during the summer. This adversely affects the activity of bees, leading to lower honey production and an increase in diseases and pests among the bees, ultimately resulting in their mortality."
Climatic Causes
Climatic changes have been impacting the apiculture sector in Wadi Hadhramout for over four years. According to Dr. Nawfal Bayaqoub, a researcher and academic specializing in bee science and its products at the Agricultural Research Station affiliated with the General Authority for Agricultural Research and Extension in Wadi Hadhramout, “The significant rise in temperatures, especially during the summer, adversely affects bee activity, leading to reduced honey production and an increase in diseases and pests among the bee colonies, ultimately resulting in their inevitable mortality.” Regarding the magnitude of the impact, Dr. Bayaqoub noted that honey production in the valley has decreased by approximately 30–40% compared to previous levels.
Continuing his talk with a sense of sorrow, Ba Jaseer tells "Khuyut": "We move between different regions and valleys in search of suitable pastures for the bees, which helps us increase honey production. However, this work has recently become arduous, exhausting, and excessively costly." His memory still holds the names of individuals who have lost significant numbers of beehives, exceeding 600 hives for some, due to climate-related factors such as intense winds, high temperatures, rainfall scarcity, and excessive logging, exacerbated by rising fuel prices and other challenges.
In a region such as Daw’an, renowned for its climatic extremes (characterized by a significant elevation in temperature), the direct repercussions of diminished rainfall rates are evident on the vegetation cover. This, in turn, impacts the nourishment of bees and disrupts their ecological system, resulting in alterations in the pollination process and consequently influencing overall honey production. Addressing this situation, Ba Jaseer asserted, “If the prevailing conditions persist, I firmly believe that we are witnessing the gradual decline of a profession that will soon become a relic. I do not conceal the fact that we are experiencing substantial losses in our bee population.”
Perhaps what Ba Jaseer mentioned aligns significantly with warnings issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2019 regarding the decline in pollination activity in various parts of the world due to challenges faced by bees. On World Bee Day, observed on May 20 of the same year, the Director-General of the organization, Qu Dongyu, affirmed that the numbers of bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining significantly due to unsustainable agricultural practices, pesticide usage, habitat destruction, and the climate crisis.
Today, globally, numerous voices have emerged emphasizing the necessity of preserving bees for the same reason. Indeed, there is a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein that states, 'Humanity will only live four years after the disappearance of bees from the surface of the Earth.' Whether or not Einstein said these exact words, this statement makes theoretical sense given the crucial role bees play in maintaining environmental balance. Without honey bees and other pollinators, it would be impossible to cultivate the majority of the crops we rely on today.
According to Engineer Al-Tamimi, over the past two years in particular, the rate of rainfall in Wadi Hadhramaut, including Daw’an, has significantly decreased from the usual levels. Consequently, he states, “the areas that were once conducive to agricultural activities and beekeeping no longer sustain the livelihoods of many beekeepers.
Similarly, Mohammed Ba Saleelah (42), a beekeeper in Wadi Daw’an, with over 17 years of experience in the field, highlighted that the decline in the honey production of Daw’an for this season, in particular, is attributed to rain scarcity and the extreme rise in temperatures during the spring. This led the bees to consume all the stored reserves in their hives, coupled with the spread of some fungal diseases in the trees, resulting in the disappearance of the blossoms crucial for the bees to collect nectar.
Thus, the deeper complication lies in the low demand for honey, coupled with the increased production costs, escalating pressure on this industry. This has not only added complexity but also made it more challenging for beekeepers to determine a price that matches the already elevated production expenses.
High Expenses
Many beekeepers attribute the low honey production to the high costs of the work itself, especially given the country's price hikes due to the ongoing war. Likewise, Hussein Salem (51), a beekeeper from Daw’an, stated to "Khuyut," that "nearly 60% of his earnings from honey sales are reinvested back into his work to sustain it."
Hussein provides a specific example that vividly illustrates the substantial disparity in operational expenses within this sector. He states, "Wooden beehives are currently being sold for over 16,000 Yemeni Rials each (equivalent to 11 US dollars), compared to the previous price of approximately 6,000 Yemeni Rials (equivalent to 4 US dollars). Just imagine the financial implications of needing 100 or 200 of these hives; how much would it cost to secure and purchase them?
Further, work expenses also include the costs of transporting beehives and bee colonies between valleys and different regions in search of fertile pastures, parallel to the rising gasoline prices. Here, Hussein Salem, who inherited this profession from his father, adds, "Unfortunately, we bear expensive work expenses that burden us and incur significant financial losses every year due to the decline in honey production." Hussein, a father of five children, concludes his statement, "Despite these significant losses we endure, our commitment to beekeeping remains strong. However, what weakens our spirits is the daily discovery of hundreds of our bees completely dead, either due to climate change or various other reasons."
What made matter worse, and deepened this problem further, is the decline in demand for honey, amidst the rising production costs. This has increased pressure on this industry, making it more complex and further complicating the task for beekeepers in finding a price that matches the already high production costs.
Poor Purchasing Power
At present, the honey is no longer a part of Yemenis' table as it used to be due to the repercussions of the war on the living standards of Yemenis. Additionally, the low honey production has contributed to a skyrocketing increase in its prices. To the extent that many Yemenis can no longer afford it, with the price of a kilogram of Sidr honey reaching around 100,000 Yemeni rials, equivalent to 67 U.S. dollars.
Ali Ba Jandouh (32 years old), the owner of a specialized honey shop in the city of Mukalla (the capital of Hadhramaut governorate), told "Khuyut": "People can no longer afford to buy honey because the income level has significantly declined from what it used to be. We barely sell honey on a daily basis." Ali drew attention to the fact that Kashmiri honey (affordable to everyone) has frighteningly flooded the market and has indeed become a practical alternative to the local honey with abundant nutritional benefits.
“There has been a significant decline in the export of Yemeni honey abroad recently, attributed to various reasons, with the primary obstacle being the impeding impact of the war on the export process.”
What about the Export?
The quantities of various renowned Yemeni honey types that were proudly exported to various corners of the world have significantly decreased, and perhaps stopped altogether, due to numerous factors exacerbated by the ongoing war. Exports in this vital sector have fallen to below 50% during the eight-year war in the country, as confirmed by a 2022 report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The report highlighted that Yemen produces around 1,500 tons of honey annually, with only 800 tons being exported.
It is known that the majority of Yemeni Hadrami honey is exported to several countries, including the Arab Gulf states and Indonesia. The price of high-quality Sidr honey in these markets can reach over $400 per kilogram, according to Ali Ba Jandouh. He notes a significant decline in Yemeni honey exports abroad in recent times, attributing this primarily to impediments imposed by the ongoing war.
Measures to Save What Can Be Saved
Accordingly, in order to find solutions to all the aforementioned challenges facing the honey sector in Yemen, experts emphasize the need to adopt long-term strategies, with implementation falling under the responsibility of the government. These strategies should encompass various qualitative measures, including the implementation of a clear afforestation plan, especially for trees that bees feed on. There should be an expansion in the cultivation of nectar-bearing plants such as sidr trees, aiming to restore pastures that have been destroyed in recent years. Additionally, there is a need for research and studies on genetic improvement for honey bees, aiming to obtain strains capable of resistance. Besides, training and qualifying beekeepers on modern and effective beekeeping practices is crucial, along with raising awareness about the importance of increasing biodiversity for plants in each season, among other measures."
In this regard, Maher Khan, project supervisor at the Small and Micro Enterprise Development Agency (SMEPS), Hadramout brunch, emphasizes the necessity of allocating a portion of the funding and grants in projects implemented in the country by international and local organizations to support this vital and important sector in Yemen. This includes the training and capacity-building of beekeepers to keep pace with the rapid developments in this field. He continues, “Since its establishment, the agency has sought to encourage local production and work with its owners according to quality standards through several qualitative projects implemented by the agency in this field.” Khan reveals the agency's current approach in one of its projects in Hadramout, aiming to open new markets for the marketing and export of honey, adhering to international certifications, standards, and requirements that will contribute to restoring the glory of this liquid gold.
