Yemeni farmers threaten to swap grapes for qat
Saddam Al-Ashmori, The Yemen Times, October 11, 2008

SANA’A, Oct 11 – Yemeni raisin producers have threatened to replace grapes with qat in their plantations after the loss they sustained this year as a result of not being able to sell all their produce.

Nasser Al-Khawlani, owner of a vineyard, said that the reason behind the low demand for local raisins this year was the presence of other cheap and attractive raisins in the markets, smuggled into Yemen from China.

He further said that, if the government didn’t take steps to prevent the smuggling of Chinese raisins into the country, farmers would replace grapes with qat in their lands.

Khalid Al-Dhabiani, grape producer, said: “From our vineyards in Khawlan, every year, we produce between eight and ten tons of grapes, for which the revenues amount to around YR 30 million. This year, we sold only three tons.”

Al-Dhabiani estimated his loss at around YR 15 million. “Our loss this year was great, especially as there is only one season in which to grow grapes, unlike qat which is grown throughout the year,” he explained.

“The government is responsible for this loss since it took no procedures to prevent the smuggling of Chinese raisins into the country. Unless the government encourages local production of grapes and find solutions to the smuggling of Chinese raisins, we will start growing qat instead,” he concluded.

Three times higher demand

The newly imported Chinese raisins are much cheaper than the local ones which makes them more attractive for Yemenis, especially poor people. Since raisins are used in social events and during Eid celebrations, the demand for Chinese raisins grew three times higher than that for the Yemeni products according to Mohammed a spices and nuts shop owner at Al-Zubairi Street.

“Next year I will import more Chinese raisons because this is what people want,” he explained.

Yemeni raisins are considered of high quality worldwide and all Yemenis, including the poor, buy raisins during Eid as they are considered to be part of Eid celebrations, but this year there was a large presence of Chinese raisins on the market.

According to Yemeni citizen Nabil A’atif, people choose Chinese raisins because of their aspect, not their quality, as Chinese raisins look bigger than the Yemeni ones. He maintained that Yemeni raisins tasted better than the Chinese despite their difference in shape, but explained that Chinese raisins were sold more cheaply, as one kilo of Chinese raisins is sold for YR 1,000 compared to one kilo of Yemeni raisins which can cost up to YR 2,500.

The Center of Studies and Economic Media revealed that the total loss of Yemeni grape farmers amounted to 60 to 70 percent of previous years’ revenues during Eid this year. In a letter to the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, it demanded that the government contain this crisis and find solutions to it.

From its field visits to vineyards and markets, the center confirmed the presence of cheap Chinese raisins on the market, and highlighted the resulting loss in business for Yemeni grape farmers and traders. It warned that unless something was done, the latter would soon turn to qat cultivation instead.

Efforts to support local produce

In a press release, the center stressed the importance of maintaining Yemeni raisin production and exportation, and demanded strict government monitoring of smuggling as well as the punishment of those involved. It further suggested the formation of official bodies such as “raisin customs” in the old city of Sana’a to ensure that only Yemeni raisins can enter this market.

The studies center called for the government to find strategies to encourage farmers to continue producing grapes, and to develop modern raisin producing mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of their product.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation confirmed that Chinese raisins in local markets had been smuggled into the country, as they could not be brought there legally.

“The ministry bans the entry of Iranian and Chinese raisins into Yemen in order to protect local products,” declared Mohammed Al-Ghashm, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Al-Ghashm stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation had contacted its various offices in points of entry to the country who had confirmed that they had allowed no forbidden products into Yemen. He added that the ministry had not given any trader a license to import raisins into Yemen, pointing out that two tons of Chinese raisins had rotted in the port of Aden because of this.

He further demanded the cooperation of all Yemeni monitoring bodies to prevent the entry of banned products, including cotton, into the country to protect Yemeni farmers’ livelihoods.