In Yemen, Honey Sustains Rural Livelihoods

After more than a decade of conflict, Yemen continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026^[1]. The deterioration of the economy, marked by the collapse of the national currency, rising prices, and the growing impacts of climate change, has severely weakened people’s livelihoods.

Among the sectors hardest hit by Yemen’s protracted crisis is beekeeping. Between 2019 and 2024, honey production in the hotter regions declined by 20-25%, accompanied by a 10-15% reduction in bee colony populations. The ongoing conflict has further undermined the sector, causing honey production and exports to drop by more than 50%^[2]. As a result, many beekeepers are struggling to maintain a stable source of income.

Action Against Hunger (ACF), with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with Youth Family Care Association (YFCA), and in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries (MoAIF), assists farmers, breeders, and beekeepers in recovering lost income streams and building long-term food security in rural areas in the governorates of Al Hudaydah and Lahj.

The project has supported the organization of 900 farmers – including 200 beekeepers – into producer groups to improve collective action and market access. It has also facilitated access to finance through savings groups and microfinance linkages, and strengthened 456 small businesses through tailored training, business development support, and micro-grants.

Beekeeping: An Ancestral Source of Nutrition and Income

Rooted in ancestral traditions, beekeeping provides a vital source of nutrition and income for rural communities. In 2020, 100,000 Yemeni householders pursued beekeeping and depended on it as their sole livelihood^[3]. Despite the effects of conflict and climate shocks on production, the sector remains  one of the country’s most important industries, with an estimated market value of nearly $500 million annually^[4].

A highly nutritious food, honey occupies a special place in Yemeni dietary habits. It is commonly consumed at breakfast, it is used as a sweetener in many traditional dishes and it is also widely used in traditional medicine to treat various health conditions.

Yemeni honey enjoys an international reputation thanks to prestigious varieties such as Sidr, Samur, and Salam honey, whose production depends on the ancestral practice of migratory beekeeping. Throughout the year, beekeepers move their traditional hives across different regions of the country, from arid valleys to mountainous areas, following flowering cycles. This mobility enables them to optimize both the quality and yield of their honey production while preserving natural resources.

An Essential Activity for Ecosystem Preservation

Beekeeping plays a key role in protecting biodiversity and preserving Yemen’s ecosystems.

Beekeepers depend directly on the health of nectar-producing plant species, particularly the Sidr tree (jujube tree). This dependence provides a strong incentive to protect these trees from excessive logging, soil degradation, and land conversion.

By transferring pollen from one flower to another, bees support the reproduction of numerous wild and cultivated plant species. This function helps maintain floral diversity, promotes the natural regeneration of landscapes, and supports agricultural production.

Through their pollination activities, bees also support the entire food chain. Diverse vegetation benefits a wide range of animal species, from birds and small mammals to other pollinating insects, thereby strengthening ecosystem resilience.

« Beekeeping offers the additional advantage of generating income while preserving natural resources. Requiring relatively little land and water, it provides a sustainable alternative to more intensive agricultural activities that may accelerate habitat degradation », outlines Waheeb Hizam, Program Manager of Food Security and Livelihood at Action Against Hunger Yemen.

In many rural communities, protecting flowering areas, combating desertification, and promoting sustainable resource management have therefore become both environmental and economic priorities.

A Sector Weakened by the Crisis and Climate Shocks

Yet, Yemen’s beekeepers face numerous challenges that have limited potential market earnings. They must contend with diseases and parasites affecting bee colonies, declining floral resources, limited access to appropriate equipment and technical knowledge, and inadequate quality-control systems to address substandard and counterfeit products.

At the same time, rural communities remain largely excluded from formal, high-value markets due to fragmented supply chains, high transportation costs, and competition from low-quality or adulterated products. These constraints significantly hinder smallholder farmers and beekeepers from obtaining fair prices, improving product quality, and establishing sustainable market linkages.

The traditional practice of migratory beekeeping – a process essential for honey production – has become increasingly expensive due to rising fuel costs. In some regions, these movements are also made hazardous by the presence of landmines or proximity to front lines.

Mufaddal Adbulraqeb Ameen is a 48-year-old beekeeper from Hajriyah village (Tur al Baha District, Lahj Governorate). Without a reliable income, he struggled to provide daily nutrition requirements for his family. « The economic pressure was overwhelming. Every week, basic foods became more expensive and providing basic needs for six children was a constant worry », he recalls. `

These challenges are compounded by the effects of climate change. Yemen is experiencing an increasing number of extreme weather events, including prolonged droughts, heavy rainfall, and flash floods.

« Water scarcity affects the flower’s production of nectar. The bees are flying for longer periods of time and greater distances to get water and food and colonies may consequently produce less honey due to reduced foraging opportunities. On the other hand, intense rains during harvesting periods significantly disrupt bee activity or – especially in case of flash floods – even wash away hives, causing substantial economic losses for beekeepers », explains Waheeb Hizam, Program Manager of Food Security and Livelihood at Action Against Hunger Yemen.

Strengthening Beekeepers’ Capacities for the Long Term

To address these challenges, Action Against Hunger (ACF), with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Fisheries (MoAIF), provided an integrated apiculture package designed to establish sustainable micro-enterprises, focusing on rural areas where agricultural yields have dropped by up to 40% due to economic and climate shocks.

Each participating household receives a comprehensive package containing modern Langstroth hives, healthy native bee colonies, protective gear, and specialized harvesting tools. Beyond hardware distribution, the project delivers intensive hands-on training in hygienic extraction, eco-friendly pest management, and post-harvest quality grading. Climate resilience and biodiversity support are also provided through adaptive strategies that enabled beekeepers to protect their hives during extreme weather shocks and shifting flowering seasons. These interventions are implemented in close partnership with the Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA), a national organization playing a key role in strengthening local economic resilience and market systems.

Adopting modern apiculture yielded clear improvements in productivity, income stability, and household resilience for Mufaddal and his 6 family members. « The hands-on training and modern hives completely transformed how I work. I learned how to inspect frames safely and keep the colonies healthy through all seasons. Now I have a stable source of income to support my children and cover our daily needs. This project restored our independence and hope », he explains.

Prior to project support, Waleed Hassan Ta’eb Nasser, 53 years old, from Al-Tabahi village, Tur Al-Baha district, attempted to raise bees using traditional hollowed-log hives and basic traditional methods. But he also struggled to provide for his family of nine.

“I used to lose whole colonies because I couldn’t spot honeybee diseases early or inspect the brood frames properly. Every harvest was a gamble, and we often lost the bees along with the honey“, he declares. “The training was a complete turning point for me, especially learning how to manage modern hives. For the first time, I learned to identify specific brood diseases and parasites that used to destroy my hives without my knowledge.”

By replacing traditional log hives with modern apiculture equipment, beekeepers can substantially improve both honey production and colony resilience. “We believe this technical upgrade enables beekeepers to increase annual honey yields by as much as 200%, while lowering bee colony mortality rates from 45% to under 10%,” adds Waheeb Hizam.

With significantly higher honey production, Waleed now sells premium-quality local honey at local markets in Lahj. ” The income from honey sales now allows me to feed my family and keep my children in school. Beekeeping is no longer just a struggle – it is a sustainable source of dignity and stability for my home“, concludes Waleed.

As part of its integrated support to the beekeeping sector, Action Against Hunger provided financial and technical assistance for the first National Honey Festival in Aden. The event brought together independent beekeepers, honey producers and marketers, agricultural cooperatives, and international organizations, creating a unique platform for exchange among farmers, private sector actors, and decision-makers. It highlighted the importance of technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and market integration alongside the provision of productive assets. A dedicated booth, staffed by a beekeeping technical consultant, offered visitors specialized advice on modern apiculture practices and hive management.

Building on the festival’s success, the National Honey Festival is expected to become an annual event. In parallel, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries (MoAIF) plans to establish a National Center for Beekeeping and Honey Production to provide continuous technical support to beekeepers, uphold quality standards, and strengthen the sector’s development, while enhancing preparations for future editions of the festival.

About Action Against Hunger in Yemen

Action Against Hunger (ACF) has been working in Yemen since 2012. Action Against Hunger response in Yemen covers both the South and North of the country – with operations in the Governorates of Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Lahj and Abyan – and aims to address both the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition. Action Against Hunger delivers an integrated, multisectoral response encompassing Health & Nutrition, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Food Security and Livelihood, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. In 2025, 843 821 people participated in our programs.

Through its Food Security and Livelihood (FSL) interventions, implemented in partnership with Youth Family Care Association (YFCA), ACF supports vulnerable households by improving food security and resilience through sustainable agriculture, livestock production, micro-enterprises, and diversified livelihood opportunities in Lahj and Al Hudaydah governorates.

^[1] https://yemen.un.org/en/312711-ocha-yemen-yemen-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2026-march-2026

^[2] https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/honey-and-hope-securing-yemens-beekeeping-livelihoods

^[3] 2020-Aug-13—Beekeeping-Market-Study.pdf

^[4] https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/honey-and-hope-securing-yemens-beekeeping-livelihoods