Yemen's Honey Production Drops Due to Climate Change, Houthi Practices

A Yemeni beekeeper in Taiz governorate (AFP)
A Yemeni beekeeper in Taiz governorate (AFP)
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Yemen's Honey Production Drops Due to Climate Change, Houthi Practices

A Yemeni beekeeper in Taiz governorate (AFP)
A Yemeni beekeeper in Taiz governorate (AFP)

Beekeeping in Yemen is facing significant challenges that have led to a decline in honey production and the poor quality offered in the market.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned of climate change's impact on the value and quality of Yemeni honey and other practices that kill bees.

The UN organization referred to the Sidr honey, one of the most valuable honey varieties in the world.

However, bees are endangered amid changes in land use and landscape structure, intensive agricultural practices, monocultures, and the use of pesticides.

Beekeepers must pay Houthi arbitrary fees claimed as a "zakat" collection system.

The organization stressed the importance of supporting beekeepers in Yemen to enhance adaptation to climate change, improve agricultural production systems, and help beekeepers save bees.

Bees and other pollinators are unsung workhorses, as nearly 75 percent of the world's crops that produce fruits and seeds for human consumption depend on them for sustained production, yield, and quality.

It expressed concerns about the global threats to bees and the disruption to food production systems, noting the importance of honey's social and economic role in Yemen.

The FAO Representative in Yemen, Hussein Gadain, said they were encouraging adopting environment-friendly agricultural production practices that promote the restoration of agrifood systems and protect bees and other pollinators in the country.

Honey production has declined a lot during the past years, giving way to vast quantities of imported honey, which is being promoted as Yemeni honey.

A trade source in the sector controlled by the Houthi militia in Sanaa stated that the honey offered in the markets is imported and not subject to any control and that the militia does not oblige merchants to disclose the true origin or set reasonable prices.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Houthis are concerned with collecting levies and royalties they obtain from merchants and suppliers.

The source claimed the group compensates by collecting royalties from local beekeepers, adding that the militias welcome other honey sources as an alternative.

The decline in the Yemeni honey trade began gradually since the coup after the Houthis seized several shops and companies specialized in producing and marketing Yemeni honey.

According to businessman Nazir Qadri, the group closed export outlets with neighboring countries because of the war.

Qadri explained that bee farms and shop owners were subjected to extortion, forced to pay high royalties, and obliged to gift coup leaders.

Coup leaders presented Yemeni honey as a bribe to UN officials in international organizations and diplomats, and the gifts were taken from beekeepers or merchants directly for free or at low prices, causing significant losses.

Last June, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that armed conflict and climate change threaten honey production in Yemen, long known for producing some of the best in the world.

The Committee said that Yemen has long been renowned for producing some of the best honey in the world, but enormous losses have been inflicted on the industry since the outbreak of the conflict.

Successive waves of displacement to flee violence, the impact of weapon contamination on production areas, and the growing impact of climate change are pushing thousands of beekeepers into precarity, significantly reducing production.

It indicated that Yemen, like many conflict-affected countries, is disproportionately affected by climate change. The temperature rises in recent years, combined with severe alterations caused to the environment, are disturbing the bees' ecosystem, which is impacting the pollination process.

ICRC officials confirmed that active frontlines prevent beekeepers from moving around the country to graze their bees.

In addition, the presence of landmines and unexploded ordinance threatens the beekeepers, dozens of whom have reportedly been killed when trying to cross the frontlines while grazing their bees or trying to sell their products.



New Opportunity for Gaza Truce with Egyptian ‘Compromise’ Proposal

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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New Opportunity for Gaza Truce with Egyptian ‘Compromise’ Proposal

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty meets with a delegation from the Palestinian Fatah movement in Cairo. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt has come forward with a new proposal to the stalled ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, offering a potential path to de-escalation as Israel’s military campaign intensifies for a third consecutive week following the collapse of the previous truce.

This marks Egypt’s fourth ceasefire initiative in under a month. According to Israeli media, the new proposal aims to "bridge the gaps" between previous plans—Egyptian, American, and Israeli—that failed to gain consensus.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat the effort may offer a renewed opportunity for calm ahead of the Jewish Passover holiday, which begins on April 20, especially in light of an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where Washington may exert pressure for a compromise.

On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellaty held talks with a high-level Palestinian delegation from Fatah, headed by Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub. The meeting, which included National Council head Rawhi Fattouh and former Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, focused on "the dangerous Israeli escalation and Egypt’s efforts to restore a ceasefire and expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid," according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

While Abdellaty did not disclose details of the latest proposal, Israel’s public broadcaster reported on Friday that Egypt had submitted a new plan aimed at resolving disputes over the ceasefire and prisoner exchange. The proposal reportedly lies somewhere between previous terms—namely, the release of five live Israeli captives proposed by mediators, and Israel’s demand for the return of 11 hostages alive from Gaza.

Negotiations to reinstate the truce, which collapsed on March 18 after nearly two months, have floundered in recent weeks. Among the key proposals was a US plan floated by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on March 13, which sought a ceasefire lasting until April 20 and included the release of 10 hostages. Hamas, however, only agreed to release dual national Idan Alexander.

Days later, Egypt proposed that Hamas release five live hostages, including one American-Israeli citizen, in exchange for Israel permitting humanitarian aid into Gaza, a week-long pause in fighting, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners—according to the Associated Press.

On March 29, Israel presented its own revised plan, coordinated with the US, offering a 40-to-50-day truce in exchange for the return of roughly half of the 24 hostages believed to still be alive, and the remains of about half of the 35 believed dead.

Dr. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, a member of Egypt’s Council for Foreign Affairs and an expert on Israeli affairs, described Egypt’s latest initiative as "a new chance to bridge gaps and revive talks." He added that the plan may offer a "middle ground that could satisfy both parties," but its success hinges on American pressure on Israel.

Palestinian political analyst Dr. Husam al-Dajani echoed this view, describing the proposal as a step toward ending the crisis. "Any plan that halts the genocide will be accepted by the Palestinian resistance," he said, though he warned that Netanyahu remains the main obstacle. "Ending the war is not his priority, and he may stall or set new conditions."

Three Israeli officials told Axios on Saturday that Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to meet with Trump. The president had hinted days earlier that Netanyahu would soon visit Washington and reiterated his commitment to resolving "the Gaza problem," following talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last week.

On Saturday, Sisi also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, stressing the "urgent need to restore calm through an immediate ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery," according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

Meanwhile, Witkoff is set to travel to the region this week. According to Axios, he is scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who leads Israel’s negotiation team. Witkoff may also visit Doha or Cairo, depending on developments in the talks over a Gaza deal.