The Onion Value Chain in Hadhramaut: Unlocking the Revenue Potential of a Flagship Crop
In June 2026, stakeholders spanning the entire onion value chain — farmers, associations, exporters, the Agriculture Office, the Chamber of Commerce and agricultural research — convened in Seiyun for the first of three crop dialogues under the Developing Agricultural Revenues in Hadhramaut initiative, prepared by Core Insights Consulting and funded by Yemen Aid under the supervision of the Agriculture and Irrigation Office in Hadhramaut.
Key Findings
- Post-harvest losses reach roughly 30 per cent of the crop, while farmers capture only about 40 per cent of its final value despite bearing most of the production risk.
- Exports to Saudi Arabia officially stand at about 60,000 tonnes a year; participants estimate real flows exceed 100,000 tonnes.
- The signature Bafatim Muhassan No. 1 variety is a unique regional asset that participants urged should be internationally registered as a trademark.
Agreed Priorities
Participants converged on seven ranked priorities — led by easing export procedures, permitting the entry of agricultural inputs, improving seed and production quality, and interest-free lending — supported by twelve strategic recommendations, from expanding drip irrigation to building a unified “Hadhramaut Onion” brand and pursuing GLOBALG.A.P. certification.
For the complete findings, analysis and recommendations, please download the full report below.
