SANAA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Yemen's Bounties Festival, currently underway in Sanaa, has brought together more than 40 local companies, agricultural cooperatives, and family-run farms to strengthen coordination between producers and marketers and promote reliance on domestic goods.
Running from Oct. 4 to Oct. 8, the exhibition aims to boost local production and advance agricultural self-sufficiency in a country still recovering from a decade-long civil war, according to the local authorities.
The festival's pavilions feature displays of organic fruits, handmade honey jars, and locally produced farming tools. It also hosts workshops and seminars on agricultural research, innovation, local industry, and opportunities for investment and export.
Since its opening earlier this week, the event has drawn large crowds from across Yemen. The reputation of authentic Yemeni coffee, Al-Daw'ani honey, and pesticide-free fruits has long extended beyond the country's borders. Visitors stroll through the exhibition halls, shopping and listening to farmers share their stories of hard work and resilience.
"The main goal of this festival is marketing and promotion, and completing value chains by linking farmers and associations with marketers and exporters, while sharing expertise," said Mohamed Hajer, an agricultural official in Sanaa and one of the festival organizers.
Abdul-Samad Al-Sanbani, a professor at Dhamar University's Faculty of Medicine, told Xinhua: "I came to see the local products up close. I am happy to see people heading to the festival, reflecting the prominence of local products in a manner worthy of them."
"We came today to see fruits and vegetables from local production. Honestly, the products are excellent, and local agriculture is healthy, safe, and free of pesticide toxins," Jamal Al-Idrisi, a visitor, told Xinhua.
Khaled Badi, another visitor, said, "Prices are very reasonable, with visitor discounts to promote local products."
Farmers expressed hope that improved marketing will attract more investment and boost agricultural activity.
"I came from afar to participate in this exhibition, promote our cooperative's products, help reduce imports, and work toward self-sufficiency," said Hassan Yaqoub from the Al-Balad Al-Tayyib Cooperative Association in Al-Tahita District, Hodeidah province, about 224 kilometers west of Sanaa.
"The main challenge is marketing our products effectively to increase production and encourage farmers to cultivate more land," he said.
Yemen has been at war since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year. The conflict has left millions facing hunger and shortages of basic services. ■
