Yemen’s East Haraaz region, once celebrated for its thriving coffee cultivation, saw a drastic decline due to the rise of Qaat, a cash crop that drained the soil and diminished the agricultural landscape. However, the tide has turned. In 1961, His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA began a movement to restore Yemen’s coffee industry, urging farmers to uproot Qaat and revive coffee cultivation. Under the leadership of His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS, the effort to plant coffee has grown significantly. Between 2019 and 2022, over 350,000 coffee saplings were planted, marking a new era of prosperity for the region.
The Upliftment Office, established to oversee this transformation, plays a vital role in guiding farmers. It provides essential resources such as irrigation systems, tools, and technical support for cultivating high-quality coffee. The transition from Qaat to coffee farming has not only improved the region’s soil health but has also created a sustainable future for its farmers.
The launch of Aqeeq Haraz Bunn represents a new chapter in this journey. As Yemen’s coffee production blooms again, this brand helps empower local farmers by providing them with a platform to sell their high-quality beans at fair prices. The office’s initiative to purchase coffee directly from farmers at competitive rates ensures that they are financially supported, fostering growth in the coffee industry. Today, over 90% of East Haraaz is free from Qaat, and the farmers are thriving thanks to the focus on coffee and fruit tree cultivation.
With coffee becoming a key business for the farmers of East Haraaz, companies like Haraaz Coffee, Mocha Mountains, and Haraz Mocha are thriving, thanks to the support of the Upliftment Office. Aqeeq Haraz Bunn is just the beginning of a long journey, as Yemen continues to rebuild its legacy as one of the world’s finest coffee-producing regions.
