Prickly pear... Yemen's wasted wealth

The prickly pear fruit, or what is known in most regions of Yemen, especially in Sana'a and the northern regions, as "plum", is one of the most beloved fruits among Yemenis, as a result of its delicious taste, health benefits, and cheap price compared to other fruits. A passer-by in the markets can take out any He has a coin available to buy this fruit, whose sellers spread throughout most of the markets and streets of Yemen during the summer, which is its ripening season.

In the city of Taiz, southwest of Yemen, the child Iyad Al-Zubaidi (13 years old) sells prickly pears to passers-by, not caring about the thorns that get on his hands and body, as he earns a decent amount of money as a result of selling this fruit.

Iyad tells Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed: “I pick figs from Mount Sabr using tweezers that I made from a long stick and an empty juice box. In one day, I pick a small barrel full and go down to the streets of the city to sell them, where I sell each one for 200 riyals (a dollar is equal to 1800 riyals), and since I pick them from trees on public property in the mountain, the amount for which I sell the figs is considered a pure profit, as I earn no less than 15 thousand riyals per day.”

Iyad adds: “The money I earn, I pay to my mother to help with household expenses, as I work by selling figs in the summer, which is the season for picking them, and coincides with the summer vacation. The money I earn helps me provide for the expenses of my studies and the studies of my brothers.”

The prickly pear fruit belongs to the cactus family, and is one of the desert plants that grows quickly and does not need large amounts of irrigation, as it tolerates dry and semi-arid environmental conditions, and it can be grown in poor soil conditions and sandy lands with limited water resources, which makes it less expensive for farmers. Compared to fruits and other agricultural crops.

Prickly pear fruit grows in mountainous areas with a moderate climate, which makes most of the Yemeni regions located on the mountain range in the west of the country extending from Taiz to Saada a suitable environment for its cultivation.

A number of studies classify the cultivation of prickly pear in Yemen as safe and organic agriculture free of pesticides and chemical interventions. It is one of the crops least susceptible to plant pests, and control interventions are almost non-existent, which makes it an exceptionally clean agriculture free of pesticides. These components have prompted a number of farmers to become professional in the profession of cultivating and trading in it, as a number of investors have established special prickly pear farms, especially in the areas of Haraz, Khawlan, Sanhan, and Bani Bahloul in Sana’a Governorate.

The prickly pear ripening season in Yemen begins in April and continues until the end of the summer. It is a long season compared to the seasons of other fruits, which doubles the profits of sellers and workers who cultivate it. Prickly pear contains nutrients and vitamins, most notably potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc.

Prickly pear has health benefits, as it helps with digestion, is an effective element in stimulating the walls of the stomach and intestines, and is a natural laxative for the digestive system that works to clean it. It is also an effective treatment for cases of indigestion and constipation, and treatment of the colon. It also contributes to stabilizing blood sugar levels and treating high blood sugar levels. Blood pressure, improves heart and arterial health, strengthens immunity, and strengthens bones and teeth. Prickly pear is part of sustainable agricultural systems that are relied upon for caring for livestock and developing livestock, which represents an important source of food security.

Prickly pear has nutritional value for humans and animals in addition to being a source of water. Prickly pear plates are used to feed camels and sheep, as they contain a high percentage of proteins and fats.

Saeed Manser, a citizen, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, “The prickly pear is one of my favorite fruits, and during its season I make sure to buy it on a daily basis for me and my family. It is delicious in taste, has great health benefits, and is cheap in price compared to other fruits.” .

Munser adds: “When I return to my village in the countryside of Jabal Sabr, I make sure to pick prickly pears with my own hands, with my children, and we eat them fresh from the trees. It is a hobby that we have practiced since childhood, as there are prickly pear trees in the village’s nooks in abundance, and every passer-by is allowed to pick any of them.” "He wants."

Previous government statistics indicated that Yemen’s production of prickly pear ranges between 60,000 tons and 100,000 tons, as Yemen was classified as the second Arab country in producing prickly pear after the Kingdom of Morocco.

According to data issued by the agricultural census in the Sana’a government (which is not recognized) in the year 2020, Yemen’s production of prickly pear reaches about 4.8 thousand tons from an agricultural area estimated at about 485 hectares, while this fruit provides more than 13 thousand job opportunities. Seasonal for workers selling and marketing fruits. Before the war, a number of farmers succeeded in exporting prickly pear fruit to several Gulf countries, in addition to Lebanon, Turkey and other European countries, but the war that broke out in the country since 2015 hindered the export process.

Agricultural researcher Khaled Al-Amawi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the cultivation of prickly pear is still subject to randomness in Yemen, and the importance of this fruit has not been paid attention to, as it still grows mostly in unreclaimed mountainous areas and randomly, and mostly in places that are not owned by anyone.

The agricultural researcher pointed out that it is the state’s duty to pay attention to the cultivation of prickly pear as it is inexpensive, and it has a suitable environment for its cultivation in Yemen as a result of the terrain and the appropriate climate. It is a tree with many benefits, as its fruits are considered a distinctive fruit, and its panels are used in many industries, and it has a large financial return, especially If it is exported abroad, this requires establishing factories to package and export it, and not being limited to the local market.”

The New Arab