How One Woman’s Beekeeping Defied War and Tradition in Yemen

In the remote village of Al-Jabal, Yemen, where career opportunities for women are scarce, Nawal Saleh struggled to fund her accounting education.

“Back then, it felt like there was no way out,” she said, adding that she had almost given up on getting her degree due to the challenges of raising enough money. 

After attempts at sewing, tutoring, and herding livestock failed to generate sufficient income, financial hardship forced her to reevaluate her college dreams. But then, after months of research, Saleh discovered beekeeping, a profession deeply rooted in Yemeni civilization dating back to the 10th century — but long dominated by men. 

“I had no idea how to be a beekeeper. The job was new to me, but it was the only opportunity available,” Saleh told More to Her Story. Initially hesitant due to societal expectations, she decided to defy norms and pursue this time-honored craft.

“I had put everything I owned in these hives but didn’t know anything about how to manage them and keep them safe. I watched tutorials online, asked too many questions to local beekeepers and, one step at a time, figured my way,” she recalled. 

Today, Saleh has built a thriving enterprise with more than 50 hives of her own, earning enough to improve her living conditions and continue her studies. In early 2024, she founded the al-Salam Women's Association, a women’s beekeeping collective that helps others follow in her footsteps. Its goals are to empower rural women economically by enabling them to pursue beekeeping and train them in business management.

The initiative has helped 250 rural women from nearby towns learn the skills of beekeeping and honey marketing, allowing them to turn small ventures into self-sustaining businesses. Many of these women could use the income generated from honey sales to send their children back to school after being initially unable to afford tuition fees.

For years, Yemen has faced devastating economic turmoil, with the country overtaken by a civil war since 2014. This protracted conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 80 percent of Yemen’s 30 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. On top of a collapsed healthcare system and widespread famine, many of the nation's traditional industries — from textile manufacturing to agriculture — have been laid waste because of the economic devastation, with GDP shrinking by more than 50 percent since the conflict began. 

Yet, amid this collapse, beekeeping practiced on a small scale has remained a crucial element of Yemeni culture and a sector that continues to grow. According to a 2020 report by the United Nations, Yemen's small-scale beekeepers produce around 1,580 tonnes of honey yearly, with nearly half, 840 tonnes, being exported to international markets, providing income to an estimated 100,000 beekeepers. 

Mohammed Al-Nakhootha, a beekeeper from Yemen’s Al-Shuba district, describes Sidr honey as the country’s most prized variety, sourced from the nectar of the Sidr tree. Known for its pale gold hue and rich taste, Sidr honey is highly valued for its medicinal benefits and distinctive flavor, commanding premium prices, particularly in Gulf markets. Al-Nakhootha, who mentored Saleh in the trade, takes pride in her success, noting that her Sidr honey has gained more market recognition than that of many veteran male beekeepers.

“After joining the Al-Salam organization, I learned beekeeping and now have a steady source of income,” said Sumaya Mohammed, 38, who lives in Al-Jabal village and learned beekeeping from Saleh.

Before beekeeping, Mohammed relied on seasonal agrarian jobs, which weren't sufficient to help support herself and her children. Her beekeeping income, now more consistent, earns her 300 to 400 times what she earned previously. 

Witnessing Saleh’s success in beekeeping encouraged Fatima Abdullah, 45, from Al-Ain village, along with many of her colleagues, to join Saleh’s organization. Abdullah’s four children were out of school for nearly a year and a half before beekeeping helped her pay school fees and expenses.

“[Saleh’s association] proves that female entrepreneurship can be a driving force behind economic development in rural communities, and, in some cases, the primary driver of growth, provided women have access to the opportunities and resources they need,” said Mohammed Al-Haddad, who is an economist at a local development agency focused on women's projects.

Abdullah Maqbool, an expert in women’s entrepreneurship projects, agreed with Al-Haddad, adding that while there is social resistance to Yemeni women in business, “the increasing need to improve living conditions has led to positive changes.”

“Nawal and her colleagues are among some of the most inspiring stories of women transforming small projects into successful businesses,” Maqbool said. “It honestly exemplifies women’s extraordinary ability to confront challenges and transform them into meaningful opportunities.”

Now, in her final year of college, Saleh has not only transformed her own life but also empowered other women in her village and surrounding communities through beekeeping.

“Helping the women in my organization re-enroll their children back in school is by far my greatest achievement,” she said.