As exporter of high-altitude coffee beans for centuries, Yemen is now facing various challenges in its coffee cultivation and harvesting due to years of conflict.
Every year, from November to the following February, it is the ripening season for Yemen's high-altitude coffee beans.
In A'alal Village, over 40 kilometers away from the country's capital – Sanaa, coffee is still grown and picked in traditional ways.
Over the years, the yield of Yemen high-altitude coffee beans is much less than its competitors. This is caused by poor infrastructure due to years of wars and conflicts, as well as serious pests and diseases problems.
"Yemen's coffee industry is facing many challenges, including nature. For example, drought -- many coffee-growing regions suffer grave water shortage. Therefore, building impounding reservoirs, dams and drip irrigation systems are quite necessary," said Samir Al-Atmi, deputy general manager of Agricultural Production at General Corporation for Coffee Development and Marketing.
Under such circumstances, some farmers have changed to grow other high-value crops; however, there are still many sticking to coffee berries.
"For us, coffee is more than a key economic crop, but also a symbol of history and culture, which is closely connected with our people, life and emotions," said Ali Al-Lahaba, a local farmer.
Yemen's coffee industry struggling amid years of conflict
Yemen's coffee industry struggling amid years of conflict
