Supporting Beekeepers to Restore Honey Production in Yemen

The livelihoods of Yemeni beekeepers have been severely disrupted by ongoing conflict and economic shocks. To improve smallholder beekeepers' productivity and resilience, a FAO project supported by the World Bank and funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, supported 700 small-scale beekeepers (4 percent of them women) to enhance honey production.

Beekeepers received training on honey production, bee feeding, and the use of the equipment. FAO provided eight modern beehives containing bee colonies to each of the targeted 700 small-scale beekeepers. Additionally, farmers were supported with honey extractors (one for every five beekeepers) and honey production kits to enhance honey production in targeted areas. Subsequently, FAO organized refresher training for all beneficiaries on the use and management of modern beehives and tools distributed. The refresher training aimed at reviewing topics covered during the initial training as well as focusing on honeybee diseases and pest management.

Annual production is now at 36–40 kg of honey per beekeeper from the eight beehives. This translates to a financial gain of about YER 1 080 000 (USD 1 800) per annum per beekeeper at the rate of YER 30 000 per kg of honey. Some farmers have even scaled up. Salem Ahmed Al-Diyli, from Shabwah, a beekeeper who participated in the project, increased his hives from eight to 30 hives. The additional hives were procured using income generated from the initial honey and wax production.

Video by FAO.