STORY: Yemen's honey industry struggles amid conflict
DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 0:04:18
LOCATION: SANAA, Yemen
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of bee expert Abdul Jbar Al-Ghouli working in a beehive on the outskirts of Sanaa,
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JBAR AL-GHOULI, Bee expert
3. various of the bee expert working in his lab
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JBAR AL-GHOULI, Bee expert

STORYLINE:

Yemen's honey industry, like many sectors in the country, has faced significant challenges due to years of conflict.
   
Abdul Jbar Al-Ghouli, a prominent bee expert in Yemen, initially ventured into beekeeping as a hobby, acquiring knowledge from books and online resources. 

He highlighted that the exceptional quality of Yemeni honey stems from the country's diverse geographic landscapes and a rich variety of flowers and trees.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): JBAR AL-GHOULI, Bee expert"The reason behind the high quality of Yemeni honey comes from the various landforms of mountains, plains, and valleys as well as the variety of flowers and trees in Yemen."
   
Al-Ghouli has established his office and laboratory, where he employs modern beekeeping techniques acquired during a trip to Egypt. He studied advanced methods, disease management, and bee preparation for the season. 

However, beekeepers confront obstacles arising from elevated commodity and fuel prices, restricting their ability to transport bees to regions with premium flowers.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): JBAR AL-GHOULI, Bee expert"The high price of commodities and fuel hampering beekeepers from moving between different valleys and grasslands in order to secure enough high-quality flowers for the bees. Moreover, airport and border closures have virtually halted exports. Beekeepers who work hard to produce honey and have overseas customers now struggle to send their honey due to the lack of shipping companies, courier services, and transportation."
   
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, resulting in widespread suffering and economic hardships. The conflict has profoundly impacted various sectors, including the once-flourishing honey industry.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sanna, Yemen.
(XHTV)