Honey Value Chain at Al Osaimat District in Ammran Governorate, Yemen

Abstract

Due to its varied ecological and climatic conditions, Yemen has a favorable natural resource endowment for the beekeeping and comparative advantage in the production of honey. Al Osaimat is not an exception where Al Osaimat honey is a well-known brand name inside and outside Yemen. Value chain development is a growing approach used worldwide to increase incomes of small producers and the economically active poor families. This study aimed to investigate the flow of honey production by exploring the status of the value chain and identifying the opportunities and constraints in the chain, where appropriate interventions are possible to minimize the chain risks and maximize value. A sample of 72 beekeeping households was surveyed, and for the deeper understanding of the state of honey chain, two focus group discussions and key informant interview were conducted. The results showed the absence of any official attention to the apiculture in the area and the lack of proper training to the chain actors, the domination of old-fashioned beekeeping practices, and the non-availability of supportive actors particularly the financial institutions. Furthermore, the study summarized the seven most important constraints and recommended intervention(s) for the value chain development.